Undelivered militant corps: DGP cites viruses, crowds

The body of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen’s chief operating officer, Riyaz Naikoo, killed in an encounter on May 6, was also buried in a different district from his native Awantipora in Pulwama.

Since the bodies of the militants were not released to families in Kashmir and were buried far from their homes, J&K Dilbag Singh’s DGP has said the Center made a decision in this regard to ensure social distancing standards during the coronavirus pandemic.

The last major militant funeral was held in the Valley a month ago, on April 9. In at least one case, the body of a civilian was also not released to his relatives. The body of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen’s chief operating officer, Riyaz Naikoo, killed in the encounter on May 6, he was also buried in a different district from his native Awantipora in Pulwama.

Speaking to The Sunday Express, the DGP said: “The Interior Ministry, through a letter, advised that the bodies of the militants not be returned. However, we are allowing the family to attend funerals. “In addition to the family, a magistrate is present at the funeral.

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Incidentally, the bodies of those who tested positive for Covid-19 are returned to families, and authorities are seeking to keep the numbers at the funeral, including officials, to a minimum.

Singh said the Center’s directive not to turn over the bodies of militants came after three funerals in early April that drew large crowds. “The Interior Ministry directive cited Covid-19 and the breach of social distancing rules during funerals, and we are implementing that order and following the SOP,” he said.

Senior security officials in the Valley said the Center had first sought such a policy change in 2018, but that all operational security forces had advised against it. With J&K status shifting to Union territory directly under New Delhi’s control, the decision was “made easy,” the sources said.

Also read | Riyaz Naikoo: faces murder and kidnapping of police relatives

The funeral processions that apparently triggered the movement were the two views in Kulgam and Anantnag in southern Kashmir on April 4, when four militants were killed in a meeting at Damhal Hanjipora in Kulgam, and another for Sajad Nawab Dar, allegedly belonging to the Jaish. e-Mohammed, held in Saidpora in northern Kashmir on April 9.

The DGP said that the letter from the Interior Ministry mentioned the funeral in Sopore and questioned the presence of such a large number of people “in violation of the blockade” at the site over time.

According to the precedent, the bodies of foreign militants are buried near Sheeri in Baramulla. Singh said the SOP for burying local militants amid the Covid-19 threat remains the same “and is likely to continue.” “There was no other option but to resort to this.”

The DGP said restrictions on militant funerals were also necessary as allowing people to gather in large numbers increased the chances of confrontation with the police. On several occasions, gun salutes were offered to militants at their funerals. According to the police assessment, militant teams have used funerals in the past to recruit individuals.

After the murder of Naikoo along with a local militant in Beighpora, clashes broke out between the locals and the security forces, leaving 16 civilians injured and one dead. El Valle had seen tension for months after the fighting during the funeral of Hizbul commander Burhan Wani in June 2016.

Singh anticipated that the recruitment of militants could see a drop after Naikoo’s murder. “He was in command of the Hizb since 2012, his calls through his audio clips were heard and answered … The HM still has the numbers, but we do not see that anyone can operate at their level,” said the DGP, adding that police operations, However, would not see any interruption.

Singh said his calculations were that Dr. Saifullah, a local Pulwama militant, could take over from Hizb-ul-Mujahideen after Naikoo’s death.

In the operation to capture Naikoo, the police chief said they had been tracking him for six months through the network of ground workers, before concentrating on him in Beighpora. “Recently, he (Naikoo) was made an offer to join and take command of a new front, TRF (The Resistance Front).”

The DGP said that they saw the TRF as part of Pakistan’s designs to portray the Kashmir militancy as indigenous, since the FATF (Financial Action Group) pressured it to take anti-terror measures.

The TRF “started as a social media operation from Karachi,” said DGP Singh, gaining a physical presence after gaining a considerable amount of followers online. According to him, the Tehreek-e-millat Islamia and the Ghaznavi Hind were being executed under the umbrella of the TRF, while also trying to revive the Tehreek-ul-Mujahideen.

Singh added that the police had managed to delay the “launch” of the TRF by intercepting weapons shipped through Keran in northern Kashmir in August last year. “The launch moved to March of this year, from north to south of Kashmir,” he said.

The DGP said that any attack by any organization in Kashmir “will now be claimed by the TRF,” as seen in the recent Handwara meeting, in which two senior Army officers were killed. “The incident was claimed by the TRF, but the murdered militant (at the encounter) was a Lashkar-e-Toiba commander, Haider,” Singh said.

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