Farooq Ahmed Dar

Farooq Ahmed Dar
Born
Farooq Ahmed Dar

(1973-01-01) 1 January 1973 (age 51)
Srinagar, J&K, India
NationalityIndia Indian
Other namesBitta Karate
Years active1990-date
OrganizationJKLF
Known forRole in militant separatist activities during the Kashmir insurgency in 1990.
Criminal chargeViolation of Public Safety Act.
Criminal penaltyPending
Criminal statusArrested and detained by NIA
SpouseAssbah Arzoomand Khan
MotherFatima

Farooq Ahmed Dar known by his nom de guerre Bitta Karate, is an Indian Kashmiri militant, who currently serves as the chairman of the Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (R) in the Kashmir Valley of Jammu and Kashmir, India.

Dubbed as the "Butcher of Pandits," due to a confession interview [1] Dar has admitted on camera to massacring multiple Kashmiri Hindu Pandits during the 1990 Kashmir insurgency leading up to the Exodus of Kashmiri Hindus.[2][3][4][5][6] He was imprisoned from 1990 until 2006 under terrorism-related charges before being released on bail. He was arrested again in 2019 for financing terrorism.[7]

Early life

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Dar was born on 1 January 1973 in the Guru Bazar neighbourhood of the city of Srinagar in the Kashmir Valley of Jammu and Kashmir, India into a Kashmiri Muslim family of the Dar clan. While "Bitta" was his pet name, he was given the suffix "Karate" because of his mastery in martial arts. Dar used to work for his family business until he left his home to become a militant in his early 20s. He became infamous during the militancy of the 1990s.[8]

Terrorism

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In 1988, Farooq Ahmed Dar was taken across the 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.[9][additional citation(s) needed]

Farooq Ahmad Dar operated as a militant of the Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front and participated in the militant activities.[2] He has admitted on camera to have killed over 20 Kashmiri Pandits.[2][4] His first victim was a young businessman, Satish Kumar Tickoo, whom Dar knew and often took a lift from. Tickoo was called out of his house and shot to be killed on 2 February 1990.[10][11] He apparently used to get orders (for execution) from Ashfaq Majeed Wani or other superiors in the JKLF.[9] According to Kashmiri Muslim sources in downtown Kashmir, Dar would walk armed on the streets of Srinagar in search of Kashmiri Pandits and on spotting, he would take out his pistol and shoot at them.[12][11] He used pistols to kill civilians and AK-47 to attack and fire at Indian Security Forces. He admitted to killing at least 20 people in 1990 during the insurgency.[9][2] According to the convener of Panun Kashmir, he had admitted to killing 42 Kashmiri Pandits.[3] Dar later claimed that he hadn't killed any Pandits and that the statement was made under duress.[6][9]

1990 arrest

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Farooq Ahmed Dar, along with two of his associates, was arrested by Border Security Force on 22 June 1990 from Srinagar. He was arrested and detained under the Public Safety Act and had 19 cases against him. He remained under detention for 16 years and was released on indefinite bail in October 2006. Dar was detained in various prisons across India. He served time in Kot Bhalwal Jail in Jammu, District Jail in Kathua, Central Jail in Jodhpur, Central Jail in Agra etc.[3][8][11][12][13]

2006 indefinite bail and release

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On 23 October 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 October 2006.[12][13] He was initially granted bail for four months against a bail bond and personal surety of ₹1 lakh (equivalent to ₹3.2 lakh or US$3,848.80 in 2023) 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][13]

While dictating the verdict, the TADA court judge, Justice 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.[12]

2006-2019 political career

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

2019 arrest and detention in terror funding case

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The National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested him again in 2019 on charges of terror funding.[7] NIA has charged Dar, Sayeed Salahudeen, and others of "conspiring to wage war against the government" and fomenting trouble in the Kashmir Valley.[7] His co-accused is the Hizbul Mujahideen's head Sayeed Salahudeen.[7]

A Kashmiri pandit has called for the reopening of the trial against Dar.[14]

See also

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Notes

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References

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  1. ^ "Here's All About Bitta Karate, alleged as the 'Butcher of Kashmiri Pandits', Who Allegedly Killed 42 People but not in records". IndiaTimes. 30 March 2022. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d India Today Web Desk (22 May 2017). "When JKLF leader Bitta Karate admitted to brutally killing 20 Kashmiri Pandits". India Today. Archived from the original on 27 November 2021.
  3. ^ a b c d Hassan, Ishfaq-ul. "'Butcher of Pandits' back in Kashmir hometown". DNA India. Archived from the original on 21 January 2022.
  4. ^ a b Pandita 2013, pp. 66–67.
  5. ^ Bitta Karate speaks: 1989 Rubaiya Sayeed's kidnap and the events in Kashmir thereafter. WildFilmsIndia. Retrieved 12 April 2022 – via YouTube.
  6. ^ a b India Today Web Desk (25 May 2017). "India Today impact: NIA moves Hurriyat leaders 'Bitta Karate', 'Ghazi Baba' to unknown location for interrogation". India Today. Archived from the original on 21 January 2022.
  7. ^ a b c d "Separatist leaders arrested for terror funding accuse NIA of delaying case". The Times of India. 13 March 2019. Archived from the original on 21 January 2022.
  8. ^ a b Hamid, Peerzada Arshad (12 June 2006). "The Verdict Violated". kashmirnewz.com. Archived from the original on 20 January 2022.
  9. ^ a b c d India Today Web Desk (16 March 2022), "Kashmir genocide: What Bitta Karate aka Farooq Ahmed Dar said 31 years ago", India Today
  10. ^ Pandita 2013, pp. 65–66.
  11. ^ a b c Pandita, Rahul (21 April 2016). "A Cry For Kashmiri Pandits From Down South". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 21 January 2022.
  12. ^ a b c d Pandita, Rahul (13 February 2015). "The Pathology of Oversight". The Caravan. Archived from the original on 21 January 2022.
  13. ^ a b c "Warm reception to Bitta Karate in Srinagar on his release". oneindia.com. 27 October 2006. Archived from the original on 21 January 2022.
  14. ^ "Hearing in Bitta Karate case deferred". The Tribune India. PTI. 16 April 2022. Retrieved 26 April 2022.

Bibliography

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