Police arrested top HM commander Ahsan Dar

BARAMULLA, Jan 13: As a major success, Jammu and Kashmir police on Wednesday claimed to have arrested chief commander and founder member Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) and Muslim Mujahideen master Muhammad Ahsan Dar from Naidkhai Sumbal Sonawari in north Kashmir's Bandipora district.

Taking to media persons in press conference held at office of Deputy Inspector General (DIG) police North Kashmir, DIG Abdul Gani Mir said, "Acting on specific information, Jammu and Kashmir police arrested one of most senior and top HM commander Muhammad Ahsan Dar son of Mohmmed Subhan Dar of Sriwapora Pattan, from Naidkhai Sumbal Sonawari in north Kashmir's Bandipora district." 

"Dar's arrest was big success to Jammu and Kashmir and it is important apprehension in the history of militancy in state," Mir said.

Mir added that Ahsan Dar was presently acting as chief coordinator of various militant originations operating in state.

"Dar was looking after the coordination among Lashkar-e-Toiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed and Hizb and was considered as close confidant of Hizbul chief Syed Salahuddin," said Mir.

Mir added, "He was one of the top commanders still actively involved in militancy here." 

Giving details, Mir said that Dar a schoolteacher of Pattan went across the Line of Control to Pakistan in 1988 after receiving arms training and returned to the valley in the same year. He was arrested in 1988 but managed to escape from hospital.

He further said that Dar again went across the LoC in 1989 and returned to lay foundation of the Hizbul Mujahideen and become the Chief Commander. He broke away from the HM and founded another militant organisation by the name of Muslim Mujahideen in the year 1992.

Mir also said that Dar was again arrested in the year 1993 and was released in 1999 after serving detention. He rejoined militancy and crossed over to Pakistan and also managed to carry his family across the LoC. He had again infiltrated into the valley and had been active since last year.

DIG Mir was flanked superintendent of police Bandipora Sheikh Junaid Mahmood. They showed some incriminating documents recovered from Dar. 

"We are investigating him and initial investigation reveals that he had come to the valley earlier on more than one occasion during the past four years. Case bearing FIR No. 12/09 dated 14.01.09 under section 13 Unlawful Activities Act, 121/212 RPC stands registered in Police Station Sumbal," Mir told media persons. When asked was there no resistance from the militants side, he said that Dar was trying to sneak into Sumbal area with out arms. (NAK)