Ex-ultras diverting financial aid for jehad, six cases surface in J&K; forces asked to keep tabs on them

In an emerging new trend in terrorism in Jammu & Kashmir, ex-terrorists who returned through Nepal and surrendered in Jammu & Kashmir over the years have now joined terrorism again. The security agencies identified at least six such cases recently and advised the J&K Police and its Crime Investigation Department, besides the Army, to keep tabs on ex-terrorists in their respective operational theatres.

Reports said that surrendered terrorist Mohamamd Iqbal Ganie, resident of Nowpora, Doru, Anantnag, joined Lashkar-e-Tayyeba (LeT) on May 5, 2018.

In the past, ex-terrorist Ghulam Ahmed Sofi, alias Jani Baba, resident of Jahama, Baramullah, was arrested by the Army and Special Operations Group (SOG), Baramullah, of the Jammu & Kashmir Police .

Ex-terrorists like Mohammad Shafeeq Bhat, Diarwani, Batmaloo and Rahi-ul-Amin Dar of Qazogund, Kulgam, are back on the radars of the security agencies.

Bhat, resident of Diarwani, Batmaloo, Srinagar, is a surrendered ex-terrorist and had come to India via Nepal in 2001. He had been noticed providing shelter to terrorists in Batmaloo.

Another case is that of Rahi-ul-Amim Dar, alias Asif of Veesu, Kazigund, Kulgam, who had rejoined terrorism (2010-Hizbul Mujahideen) and was later killed in an encounter.

Yet another case in point is that of Sajad Ahmed Bhat, resident of Wayan, Pampore, Pulwama, who was found to be an overground worker (OGW) of Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM).

“Member agencies, especially, CID, JKP (Jammu & Kashmir Police) and the Army are requested to provide us the details of such cases (surrendered terrorists re-joining terrorism) available with them,” reads an Intelligence report.

The trend is being taken seriously and a detailed exercise has been undertaken to ascertain more such cases so that remedial measures can be taken. The surrendered terrorists get benefits under the rehabilitation packages and their coming back to the terror fold implies that they are fighting the forces from funds being made available to them under the Government amnesty schemes, a senior security agency official said.

The return of the ex-terrorists to terror activities is matter of serious concern for the security agencies because these hardcore terrorists have well-established links across the border. These terrorists are well trained in terror activities and can provide both logistical support and strategic inputs to foreign ultras entering into the country.

The Union Home Ministry has been opposed to keeping Nepal as a “designated” route for return of these “terrorists” from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir under the J&K Government’s surrender and rehabilitation policy in force since 2010. This is mainly because ultras have been using Nepal as an informal transit route to re-enter India along with their families, and as Nepal becomes designated route they could be spotted by the ISI and targeted while returning to India.

Around 450 terrorists have returned from POK to India via Nepal even though under the surrender policy it does not entitle them to any benefit. In contrast, a few ultras have re-entered India via the three designated routes: Salamabad, Chakanda-Bagh and Indira Gandhi International Airport, Delhi.