Basit Ahmed Dar
Basit Ahmed Dar | |
|---|---|
| Born | 12 April 2002 Redwani Payeen, Kulgam, Jammu and Kashmir, India |
| Died | 7 May 2024 (aged 22) Kulgam, Jammu and Kashmir, India |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Other names | Abu Kamran |
| Years active | 2021–2024 |
| Organization | The Resistance Front |
| Predecessor | Muhammad Abbas Sheikh † |
| Movement | Insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir |
Basit Ahmed Dar (also known as Basit Dar or Abu Kamran Ali; 12 April 2002 – 7 May 2024) was a Kashmiri separatist militant commander. He was the Chief Operational Commander of The Resistance Front (TRF) following the assassination of TRF Commander Muhammad Abbas Sheikh[1] in August 2021.[2] He was one of the most wanted militants in the Kashmir valley with a reward of one million INR on his head.[3][4] He was killed by Indian Security Forces on 7 May 2024, in an encounter in the Kulgam district of Kashmir.[5]
Early life[edit]
Basit Dar was born in Redwani Payeen Village, located in the Kulgam district of South Kashmir on 12 April 2002. The son of the late Abdul Rasheed Dar, Basit went missing on 25 April 2021; merely one month after his father's death, he joined The Resistance Front. In 2016, he faced injuries, enduring two bullets from Indian forces during the 2016 unrest following the killing of Burhan Wani. His educational journey extended till matriculation.[6]
The Resistance Front[edit]
After joining The Resistance Front, Basit Dar became a close associate of the then TRF commander, Abbas Sheikh.[7] On orders of Abbas Sheikh he orchestrated numerous attacks in and around Srinagar city. Following Abbas Sheikh's[8] killing in an encounter with Srinagar Police in August 2021, Basit Dar was subsequently chosen as the Chief Operational Commander by TRF supreme commander Sheikh Sajjad Gul. Thereafter, he orchestrated and executed hundreds of attacks targeting Indian security forces, migrant Pandits, non-Kashmiri labourers, local police informers, and pro-Indian politicians.[9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17]
Escape from encounters[edit]
Basit Dar escaped from encounters on multiple occasions. The first instance occurred on 24 November 2021, in Rambagh, Srinagar, where three of his associates were killed, including his close accomplice Mehran Yaseen Shalla.[18][19] Another escape occurred on 23 March 2022, in Zoonimar, Srinagar, following the killing of a police officer.[20][21] His last escape was on 15 August 2022 in the Nowhatta area of Srinagar after killing one policeman. He was then underground and leading TRF operations remotely,[22][23] until he was killed.
Designation and reward[edit]
On 10 December 2022, the Indian Central Government labelled him a wanted terrorist, and India's National Investigation Agency (NIA) offered a reward of 1 million INR for his capture.[24] Security forces posted his wanted posters throughout the valley.[3] He was the most wanted and feared militant in Jammu and Kashmir, wanted by Indian security forces in numerous cases at the time of his death.[2]
References[edit]
- ^ Shah, Suhail A. "TRF chief Abbas Sheikh was the 17th militant in his family to have been killed". Kashmir Reader. Retrieved 4 February 2024.
- ^ a b Khan, Sami (14 July 2023). "Self-declared TRF chief wanted; NIA announces Rs 10 lakh reward on Basit Dar [details]". www.ibtimes.co.in. Retrieved 4 February 2024.
- ^ a b NETWORK, GK NEWS (21 January 2022). "Police release list of 3 wanted militants". Greater Kashmir. Retrieved 4 February 2024.
- ^ Fayyaz, Ahmed Ali (14 September 2023). "With local militancy wiped out, Pak sends battle hardened terrorists in Kashmir". Indianarrative. Retrieved 4 February 2024.
- ^ Network, KL News (7 May 2024). "Jammu and Kashmir: Militant Commander Basit Dar Killed in Encounter". Kashmir Life. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
- ^ "One Month After Father's Death, Teenage Boy Goes Missing in Kulgam". The Kashmiriyat. 30 April 2021. Retrieved 4 February 2024.
- ^ "2 Lashkar commanders killed in gunbattle with police in Kashmir". Hindustan Times. 23 August 2021. Retrieved 4 February 2024.
- ^ "Who was Abbas Sheikh, TRF chief who revived militancy in Srinagar?". The Week. Retrieved 4 February 2024.
- ^ "Terrorists behind killing of J&K businessman Bindroo and teachers identified: Security officials". The Economic Times. 12 October 2021. ISSN 0013-0389. Retrieved 4 February 2024.
- ^ "Early Times: Leading Newspaper Jammu Kashmir, Latest News about Jammu & Kashmir". www.earlytimes.in. Retrieved 4 February 2024.
- ^ "NIA court issues non-bailable warrant against active terrorist". Hindustan Times. 26 July 2023. Retrieved 4 February 2024.
- ^ "J&K cop injured in terror attack in Oct dies at AIIMS-Delhi". The Times of India. 7 December 2023. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 4 February 2024.
- ^ "J&K cop, who was playing cricket, shot by terrorists in downtown Srinagar". India Today. Retrieved 4 February 2024.
- ^ Desk, K. R. "'Major attack' prevented with interception of 2 LeT militants in Nowhatta". Kashmir Reader. Retrieved 4 February 2024.
- ^ "Year on, chargesheet filed against two militants in Srinagar constable's murder case". Hindustan Times. 15 June 2023. Retrieved 4 February 2024.
- ^ "J&K: Lashkar Shadow Group TRF Releases First Images Of Terrorist Involved In Anantnag Encounter". Hindustan Times. 17 September 2023. Retrieved 4 February 2024.
- ^ "TRF/LeT IED blast injures three soldiers in Shopian". Geopolitical Report. 2 June 2022. Retrieved 4 February 2024.
- ^ "Encounter in Rambagh: Three shot in Srinagar, police say militants". The Indian Express. 24 November 2021. Retrieved 4 February 2024.
- ^ Bureau, ABP News (24 November 2021). "Srinagar Encounter: 3 TRF Militants, Including Self-Styled Commander Wanted In Civilian Killings, Shot Dead". news.abplive.com. Retrieved 4 February 2024.
- ^ "Police constable killed in Srinagar encounter". Hindustan Times. 23 March 2022. Retrieved 4 February 2024.
- ^ "Cop killed in shoot out with militants in Srinagar outskirts at Zoonimar". The Kashmir Press. 22 March 2022. Retrieved 4 February 2024.
- ^ "Nowhatta Encounter: Ak Rifle, 2 Grenades And Scooter Seized, Says Police". Asian Mail. Retrieved 4 February 2024.
- ^ correspondent, Reader. "Nowhatta encounter: Vehicle used by LeT militants seized, say police". Kashmir Reader. Retrieved 4 February 2024.
- ^ "NIA puts up posters seeking information on four 'most-wanted' militants". The Kashmiriyat. 10 December 2022. Retrieved 4 February 2024.