SRINAGAR: In a major success, Jammu and Kashmir Police on Tuesday said it arrested two accused who were allegedly involved in the murder of Moulvi Mohammad Farooq who was assassinated in his Srinagar residence by unidentified gunmen on May 21 in 1990.

Police said the two Hizbul Mujahideen militants Javeed Ahmed Bhat alias Ajmal Khan of Solina Bala, at present Azad Basti Natipora Srinagar and Zahoor Ahmad Bhat alias Bilal of Danderkhaw Batamaloo Srinagar, who were on the run from over 32 years were arrested by the J&K Police’s Special Investigation Agency(SIA).

The two were declared proclaimed offenders by the Central Bureau of Investigation.

Announcing the arrest of the duo, Special Director General of Police, CID, R R Swain said out of the five Hizbul men accused in the case, two including the group commander Abdullah Bangroo and his aide Rehman Shigan were killed in encounters.

“Ayub Dar was the only one arrested in the case who was awarded life imprisonment and the two Zahoor and Bilal were absconders,” Swain told reporters in Srinagar.

He said the two had gone underground and during all these years were hiding in Nepal and Pakistan among other places before surreptitiously returning back to Kashmir a few years ago.

“Maintaining a low profile, changing addresses and shifting residences, they avoided the gaze of law enforcement agencies,” he said.

The DGP said the two were arrested and have been handed over to CBI to face the trial.

Moulvi Mohammad Farooq, father of moderate Hurriyat Conference leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, was killed by gunmen after they barged into his Nigeen residence on May 21 in 1990. Subsequently, on the same day, a huge procession carrying his coffin was fired upon by CRPF at Hawal in Srinagar leaving more than 60 civilians dead.
Police said Mirwaiz Farooq, was killed by Hizbul Mujahideen accusing him of being a ‘peacenik’ and an ‘Indian agent’.

Soon after the killing, J&K police registered a case in Police Station Nageen, Srinagar. Thereafter the government transferred the investigation to the CBI on June 11, 1990.

In a statement, Police said before killing Mirwaiz, all the five HM militants had gone to Pakistan for arms training in 1990.

“Back in Srinagar, Abdullah Bangroo received instructions in April 1990 from his ISI handler in Pakistan to eliminate Mirwaiz,” police said.

“During trial running for several years, it could be established that the terrorist who pulled the trigger on Mirwaiz Farooq on the fateful day on the directions of then HM commander Abdullah Bangroo was Zahoor Bhat who ironically succeeded in evading arrest by going into hiding,” police said. (UNI)