Zakir Rashid Bhat

Zakir Rashid Bhat (born 24 July 1994), nicknamed Zakir Musa, is a active Terrorist in Kashmir. He was appointed "commander" after the encounter of former "commander" of Hizbul Mujahideen Burhan Muzaffar Wani by the Indian security forces, which led to the 2016 Kashmir Unrest. His family is "economically sound" . His brother is Dr. Shakir a Kashmir based doctor working currently at Bone & joint hospital Barzulla . Although there is "uncertainty" among people why he joined militancy, the widely believed reason for this is that when he came to home from Chandigarh he got in touch with people that inspired him . He "disavowed" allegiance to Hizbul Mujahideen in May 2017, and decided to go alone with his band of mujahideen to fight for an Islamic state of Jammu and Kashmir. His move was supported by two other mujahideen organizations Harkat-ul-Mujahideen and Kashmiri Taliban.[1]

In July 2017, Global Islamic Media Front climed that Zakir Musa was named as the head of the newly created outfit called Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind, a newly created cell of al-Qaeda.[2][3]

Early life

Zakir Rashid Bhat was born in Noorpora, Tral in South Kashmir to Abdul Rashid Bhat, a senior engineer with the state government. He studied civil engineering in Chandigarh before returning to his ancestral village Noorpora in Pulwama in 2013 for a vacation and joining the Hizbul Mujahideen.[4]

Hizbul Mujahideen

The Hizbul Mujahideen had earlier named Mehmood Ghaznavi as Wani’s successor but that is possibly an alias of Bhat, who is said to be around 22 years age.[5] He issued his first video in Kashmir in August 2016.[6][7][8][9] He is sometimes described as "part of a new generation of tech savy, well-educated militants" who became involved in the conflict after the 2010 Kashmir unrest.[10] He quit the group after it refused to back his statements supporting Islamism.[11]

Following the elimination of Sabzar Bhat in Tral, intercepted Hizbul Mujahideen communications suggested that many militants believed that Sabzar Bhat had been betrayed by Musa.[12][13]

Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind

The Tribune claimed that Musa was announced as the head of newly created organization and al-Qaeda-cell in Jammu and Kashmir called Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind by al-Qaeda-affiliated Global Islamic Media Front on 27 July 2017.[3] After the killing of militant commander Abu Dujana and Arif Lelhari, a statement purported to be of Musa was released. The purpoted statement claimed that Dujana and Lelhari had joined al-Qaeda and helped set it up. The officials stated that the voice of the message matched those of the earlier audio clips by Musa, though the state's DGP S.P. Vaid stated there was no way of authenticating the clips, though there were reports Dujana and Musa were close. Meanwhile, an audio-clip circulated on media claimed to be Dujana and Arif's last message during their encounter. Two voices claim allegiance to al-Qaeda, however no gunfire is heard and the authenticaty of the clip wasn't claimed.[14]

References

  1. ↑ Aarti Tikoo Singh (14 May 2017). "From engineering dropout to militant: Story of Hizbul terrorist who quit outfit". Times of India. Retrieved 15 May 2017.
  2. ↑ Simarjeet Kaur (28 July 2017). "Zakir Musa Will Lead New Outfit in Kashmir". The Tribune. Retrieved 4 August 2017.
  3. 1 2 "Al-Qaida-linked cell Ansar Ghazwat-Ul-Hind announces Zakir Musa as its chief in Kashmir". Times of India. 27 July 2017.
  4. ↑ "Ex-engineering student emerges as Wani’s successor in Hizbul video". 17 August 2016.
  5. ↑ Hizbul Mujahideen names its new Kashmir commander http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-hizbul-mujahideen-names-its-new-kashmir-commander-2233952
  6. ↑ "Burhan Wani ‘successor’ posts video, seeks support of Kashmiris". 18 August 2016.
  7. ↑ "Hizbul Mujahideen projects Zakir Rashid Bhat as mujahideen Burhan Wani’s successor in Kashmir - News Nation". 18 August 2016.
  8. ↑ "How different is Hizul Mujahideen's Zakir Rashid than his predecessor Burhan Wani ? - Latest News & Updates at Daily News & Analysis". 18 August 2016.
  9. ↑ "Hizbul Mujahideen projects Zakir Rashid Bhat as Wani’s successor". 18 August 2016.
  10. ↑ "Kashmir's disturbing new reality - the young militants of Kashmir".
  11. ↑ "Zakir Musa Quits Hizbul Mujahideen Day After Threatening To Kill Hurriyat Leaders". News 18.
  12. ↑ "Local Militant Group Claims It Informed Police About Hizb Commander Sabzar Bhat's Whereabout". Outlook. June 2, 2017.
  13. ↑ Kanwal, Rahul (May 30, 2017). "Was Sabzar Bhatt betrayed by boss Zakir Musa? Intel inputs suggest rift among Kashmiri terrorists". Archived from the original on June 3, 2017. Radio and mobile chatter intercepted by India's intelligence agencies reflect a high level of distrust between former Hizbul commander Zakir Musa and the terror outfit he had led till recently. In the aftermath of the encounter killing of Burhan Wani's successor Sabzar Bhatt, Indian agencies have recorded multiple conversations where Hizbul Mujahideen cadre can be heard discussing whether Zakir Musa betrayed Sabzar Bhatt. Hizbul terrorists seem to suspect that a personal messenger close to Musa tipped off the Jammu and Kashmir police about the location of Sabzar's hideout. Sabzar was killed in an encounter close to his hometown of Tral.
  14. ↑ "Abu Dujana helped set up al Qaeda in India: Zakir Musa in purported statement". Hindustan Times. 5 August 2017.
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