Farooq Ahmed Dar

Farooq Ahmed Dar (Urdu: فاروق احمد ڈار‎), also known by his nom de guerre Bitta Karate, is the current chairman of Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front and a former Kashmiri militant.

Farooq Ahmed Dar
فاروق احمد ڈار
Born
Srinagar
NationalityIndian
Other namesBitta Karate
CitizenshipPakistani
Years active1990-date
OrganizationJammu Kashmir Liberation Front
Known foraccused of killing of Kashmiri Hindus during ethnic cleansing in 1990.
Criminal charge(s)Violation of Public Safety Act.
Criminal penaltyPending
Criminal statusarrested and detained by NIA
FamilyFatima (mother)
Assbah Arzoomand Khan (wife)

Dar has been accused of murdering multiple Kashmiri Pandits during their 1990 exodus.[1][2][3] He was imprisoned under terrorism-related charges from 1990 until 2006, before being released on bail and arrested again in 2019 for financing of terrorism.[4]

Early life

Farooq Ahmed Dar was born in the late 1960s in Guru Bazar in Srinagar. "Bitta" being his pet name, Dar was given suffix nickname "Karate" because of his mastery in martial arts. Farooq Ahmed Dar used to work for his family business and in his early 20s, he left his home to become a militant. Within no time he became the synonym of militancy in the valley.[5]

Career in militancy

1988 armed training in PoK

Farooq Ahmed Dar in 1988, was taken across LoC to Pakistan-administered Kashmir by the then JKLF chief commander Ashfaq Majeed Wani for armed training. Dar was blindfolded and then taken to Pakistan-administered Kashmir along with other "trainees" where they received 32 day armed training in state-sponsored Pakistani militant training camp.

Participation in the 1990 exodus of Kashmiri Hindus
Main article: Exodus of Kashmiri Hindus

Farooq Ahmad Dar spread terror with his return from arms training in Pakistani Kashmir in 1990s. He was imprisoned for killings of Kashmiri Hindus and had participated in ethnic cleansing of Kashmiri Pandits.[6] His first victim was a young businessman Satish Kumar Tickoo, who was his close friend. Tickoo was shot by Dar in front of his house.[7] He apparently used to get orders (for execution) from Ashfaq Majeed Wani or other superiors in JKLF. Dar would also walk armed on the streets of Srinagar in search of Kashmiri Hindus and on spotting, he would take out his pistol and shoot at them.[8] He used pistols to kill individuals (civilians) and AK-47 to attack and fire at Indian Security Forces. He admitted to killing between at least 20 people or more in 1990 during the insurgency.[6] The convener of Panun Kashmir has accused him of publicly proclaiming killing 42 Hindus.[3][7] Dar himself had stated in a video that he had killed 20 Kashmiri Hindus.[6] He however later claimed that he didn't kill any Pandit and the statement was made under duress.[9]

1990 arrest

Farooq Ahmed Dar along with his two associates, was arrested by Border Security Force on 22 Jun 1990 from Srinagar. He was arrested and detained under the Public Safety Act and had 19 terrorism cases against him. He remained under detention for 16 years and was released on indefinite bail in Oct 2006. Dar was in detention in various prisons in India in different states. He served time in Kot Bhalwal Jail in Jammu, District Jail in Kathua, Central Jail in Jodhpur, Central Jail in Agra etc.[3][5][7][8][10]

2006 indefinite bail and release

On 23 Oct 2006, a court enforcing Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA court) in Jammu granted bail to Dar and he was handed over to his family on 25 Oct 2006.[8][10] He was initially granted bail for four months against a bail bond and personal surety of ₹1 lakh (equivalent to ₹2.6 lakh or US$3,624.10 in 2019) each. Dar was released after spending 16 years in jail. His detention under the Public Safety Act was quashed by the Supreme Court of India before his release from jail. His release was condemned by several Kashmiri Pandit organizations. Dar got a warm reception from his supporters in Kashmir. Large number of supporters assembled at his house where flower petals and confetti was showered on him. Then, Dar was taken out in a procession to an Eidgah where prayers were offered.[3][10]

While dictating verdict, judge remarked:

When releasing Farooq Ahmed Dar on bail in 2006, the TADA court judge N.D. Wani remarked; “The court is aware of the fact that the allegations against the accused are of serious nature and carry a punishment of death sentence or life imprisonment but the fact is that the prosecution has shown total disinterest in arguing the case.”[8]

2006-2019 political career

Upon release from detention, Dar joined Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (R) where he worked his way up to become its chairman.

2019 arrest and detention in terror funding case

National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested him again in 2019 on new charges of terror funding.[4] NIA has charged Dar, Sayeed Salahudeen, and others of "conspiring to wage war against the government" and fomenting trouble in the Kashmir Valley.[4] His co-accused is Hizbul Mujahideen's head Sayeed Salahudeen.[4] Hizbul Mujahideen has been designated as a terrorist group by India,[11] the European Union,[12] and the United States,[13] yet continues to operate freely within Pakistan.[14] Sayeed Salahudeen is on India's NIA Most Wanted list,[15] and has been named as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist by the US Department Of State.[16][17]

See also

References
  1. Pandita, Rahul (2013). Our Moon Has Blood Clots: The Exodus of the Kashmiri Pandits. Random House India. pp. 45–. ISBN 978-81-8400-390-1.
  2. "When JKLF leader Bitta Karate admitted to killing 20 Kashmiri Pandits". India Today. Ist. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
  3. "Butcher Of Pandits Back In Kashmir Hometown". DNA India. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
  4. Separatist leaders arrested for terror funding, Times of India, 14 Mar 2019,
  5. "The Verdict Violated". kashmirnewz.com. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
  6. "When JKLF leader Bitta Karate admitted to killing 20 Kashmiri Pandits". India Today. 22 May 2017.
  7. "A Cry For Kashmiri Pandits From Down South". The Hindu. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
  8. "The Pathology of Oversight". caravanmagazine.in. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
  9. "India Today impact: NIA moves Hurriyat leaders Bitta Karate, Ghazi Baba to unknown location for interrogation". India Today. 25 May 2017.
  10. "Bitta Karate jail and bail". oneindia.com. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
  11. "Banned Organisations". Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. 29 January 2013. Archived from the original on 29 January 2013.
  12. "Council Decision (CFSP) 2015/2430 of 21 December 2015". Official Journal of the European Union. 22 December 2015. Retrieved 15 May 2017.
  13. "US adds 4 Indian outfits to terror list". Rediff News. 30 April 2004. Retrieved 13 May 2015.; See also
  14. Kiessling, Hein (15 November 2016). Faith, Unity, Discipline: The Inter-Service-Intelligence (ISI) of Pakistan. Oxford University Press. ISBN 9781849048637.
  15. Bloeria, Conflicts in Jammu and Kashmir 2012.
  16. "State Department Terrorist Designations of Mohammad Yusuf Shah AKA Syed Salahuddin".
  17. "India stands vindicated as US names Hizbul chief Syed Salahuddin 'global terrorist'".

Sources
  • Bloeria, S. S. (2012), "Conflict overview", in V. R. Raghavan (ed.), Conflicts in Jammu and Kashmir: Impact on Polity, Society and Economy, Vij Books India Pvt Ltd, pp. 15–56, ISBN 978-93-82573-33-3
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