Zakir Rashid Bhat

Zakir Rashid Bhat or Zakir Musa (25 July 1994 - 24 May 2019) was a former Hizbul Mujahideen commander (2013–17), and founder of the Indian wing of Al-Qaeda , Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind in 2017.[3][4] Musa split with the political objectives of the Hizbul Mujahideen for Kashmir in favour of Al-Qaeda's radical religious objectives of imposing Shariah in the region.[3][5]

Zakir Rashid Bhat
Founder and chief of
Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind
Succeeded byHameed Lelhari[1]
Former Commander of Hizbul Mujahideen
Preceded byBurhan Wani
Personal details
Born25 July 1994[2]
Tral, Kashmir[2]
DiedMay 24, 2019(2019-05-24) (aged 24)[2]
Dadsara Village[2]
Cause of deathEncounter at Dadsara, Tral
EducationEngineering Student
ReligionIslam
Military service
Battles/warsKashmir Intifada

He was killed by Indian security forces at Tral area of south Kashmir in May 2019, as the "most wanted militant of India".[3][5]

Early life

Zakir Rashid Bhat was born in Noorpora, Tral in South Kashmir. His father was Abdul Rashid Bhat, a senior engineer working with the state government.[2] Musa studied at Noor Public School up to Class 10, and then attended the government higher secondary institution at Noorpora where he passed his 12th in 2011.[2]

Musa attended Ram Dev Jindal College, in Chandigarh but left in 2013 due to unknown reasons and joined the militant group Hizbul Mujahideen.[5][2][6]

Hizbul Mujahideen
Main article: Hizbul Mujahideen

Musa joined the Sayeed Salahudeen's group Hizbul Mujahideen in 2013.[7] He became the commander of the Hizbul Mujahideen after the death of Burhan Muzaffar Wani; discontent over Wani's death led to the 2016 Kashmir Unrest.[6][8] In August 2016, Musa issued his first video in Kashmir.[9][10][11][12] He has been described as "part of a new generation of tech-savvy, well-educated militants" who became involved in the conflict after the 2010 Kashmir unrest.[13]

In 2017, Musa threatened to behead the Hurriyat leaders for calling the Kashmir conflict a political, rather than a religious, objective to establish Islamic rule; he warned them not to become a "thorn" in the imposition of Shariah in Kashmir. Hizbul Mujahideen immediately disassociated itself from Musa's statement, and Musa, in response, quit the organization.[14] In 2017, he left the group after it refused to back his public statements supporting his argument that the struggle in Kashmir was for Islam, and not for political purposes.[15][16][17]

Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind
Main article: Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind

In July 2017, the Global Islamic Media Front claimed that Zakir Musa had been named the head of Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind, a newly created cell of Al-Qaeda.[6][18] After the killing of militant commander Abu Dujana and Arif Lelhari, a statement purported to be from Musa was released. The statement claimed that Dujana and Lelhari had joined Al-Qaeda and helped establish it. 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 even though there were reports that Dujana and Musa were close at the time. Meanwhile, an audio-clip circulated on media that claimed to be the last message from Dujana and Arif during their encounter. Two voices claim allegiance to Al-Qaeda; however, no gunfire is heard and the authenticity of the clip was not proven.[19]

It was reported on 12 August 2017 that Musa and his aide evaded an Indian Army and JK Police operation with locals, pelting security forces with stones in Noorpora Village in Tral.[20] In an audio message released on 31 August 2017, Musa attacked Pakistan for "betraying Kashmir jihad." He also stated that the objective of Al-Qaeda's Kashmir cell was to clear it from the Pakistan government, army and their sponsored agents. He also threatened to "liberate India" from the Hindus.[21] Hizbul put up posters in Sopore in September 2017, which held him responsible for helping Indian security forces kill Kashmiris, asking people to chase him to death and calling him an "Indian agent."[18]

Call for return of Kashmiri Pandits

Musa, like his predecessor Burhan Wani, asked the Kashmiri Pandits to return to their homeland.[22] He stated during a video released after the killing of Burhan Wani in 2016, “We request Kashmiri Pandits to return to their homes. We take the responsibility of their protection.[23] But he had given no proof for that

Death and aftermath

Zakir Rashid Bhat, was killed after an 11-hour operation.[24] Musa was killed by Indian security forces in an encounter in Tral, South Kashmir on 23 May 2019.[25][26]

The Indian authorities closed the Internet on mobile phone network to manage anti-India protests; curfews were also imposed across much of the Kashmir Valley, including in the main city of Srinagar, and schools and colleges were closed.[5][27][28]

At the time of his death, the BBC News described him as "India's most wanted militant."[3][5]


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References
  1. SrinagarOctober 23, Ashraf Wani; October 23, 2019UPDATED:; Ist, 2019 12:53. "J&K: Zakir Musa's successor Hamid Lelhari killed in Awantipora encounter". India Today. Retrieved 24 May 2020.CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  2. Aarti Tikoo Singh (14 May 2017). "From engineering dropout to militant: Story of Hizbul terrorist who quit outfit". The Times of India. Retrieved 14 May 2017.
  3. "Zakir Musa: Thousands mourn India's 'most wanted' militant". BBC News. 24 May 2019. Retrieved 4 July 2019.
  4. "Army releases list of 12 most wanted militant in Kashmir Valley". Times of India. Retrieved 2 June 2017.
  5. Ben Farmer (24 May 2019). "Killing of 'most wanted' al-Qaeda linked Kashmir militant sparks protest". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 4 July 2019.}
  6. "Al-Qaida-linked cell Ansar Ghazwat-Ul-Hind announces Zakir Musa as its chief in Kashmir". Times of India. 27 July 2017.
  7. 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.
  8. Zee Media Bureau (1 April 2017). "Burhan Wani's successor, Zakir Musa, provoked attacks against J&K police, called stone-pelters soldiers of Islam". Zee News.
  9. "Burhan Wani 'successor' posts video, seeks support of Kashmiris". 18 August 2016.
  10. "Hizbul Mujahideen projects Zakir Rashid Bhat as mujahideen Burhan Wani's successor in Kashmir - News Nation". 18 August 2016.
  11. "How different is Hizul Mujahideen's Zakir Rashid than his predecessor Burhan Wani ? - Latest News & Updates at Daily News & Analysis". 18 August 2016.
  12. "Hizbul Mujahideen projects Zakir Rashid Bhat as Wani's successor". 18 August 2016.
  13. "Kashmir's disturbing new reality - the young militants of Kashmir".
  14. Zee Media Bureau (15 May 2017). "With Call For 'Islamic Rule', Zakir Musa May Have Signalled Ideological Split in Kashmir Militancy". The Wire (Indian web publication).
  15. "Zakir Musa Quits Hizbul Mujahideen Day After Threatening To Kill Hurriyat Leaders". News 18.
  16. "Local Militant Group Claims It Informed Police About Hizb Commander Sabzar Bhat's Whereabout". Outlook. 2 June 2017.
  17. Rahul Kanwal (30 May 2017). "Was Sabzar Bhatt betrayed by boss Zakir Musa? Intel inputs suggest rift among Kashmiri terrorists". India Today. Retrieved 5 July 2019. 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 the 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.
  18. Pandit, M. Saleem (18 September 2017). "Hizbul blames Zakir Musa for 'helping forces kill Kashmiris'". Times of India.
  19. "Abu Dujana helped set up al Qaeda in India: Zakir Musa in purported statement". Hindustan Times. 5 August 2017.
  20. "J&K: Stone-pelters help cornered terrorist Zakir Musa flee". Times of India. 12 August 2017.
  21. Wani, Fayaz (1 September 2017). "Al Qaeda Kashmir head slams Pakistan for betraying Kashmir 'jehad', warns India". The New Indian Express.
  22. "Homecoming of Pandits in Kashmir's new age of militancy". www.dailyo.in. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
  23. "Burhan Wani's successor requests Kashmiri Pandits to return, assures safety". Hindustan Times. 18 October 2016. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
  24. "Zakir Musa: Tensions in Kashmir after killing of top rebel". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
  25. "Zakir Musa: India's 'most wanted' militant killed in Kashmir". BBC News. 24 May 2019.
  26. "Zakir Musa, Jammu and Kashmir's most wanted militant, killed in encounter: Police". Hindustan Times. 23 May 2019.
  27. "Zakir Musa: Tensions in Kashmir after killing of top rebel". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
  28. "Zakir Musa: Tensions in Kashmir after killing of top rebel". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
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