December 09
In the recent memory, one of the longest gunfights raged in the Arwani area of South Kashmir’s Islamabad (Anantnag) district ending with the killing of Majid Zargar, the 23 year old Militant on December 10, 2016.
Zargar, a secondary school pass-out from Saintt Luke’s Convent school in Islamabad (Anantnag), was an active militant for the four years. He joined Lashkar-e-Taiba, climbing its ranks to become the district commander for Kulgam.
On 5th May 2016, in broad day light, two Militants appeared on the busy K.P Road of Islamabad (Anantnag) township and shouted Pro Islam Slogans loudly, they also shot dead two Policemen.
Majid Zargar was from the Gofbal area of Quimoh in South Kashmir’s Kulgam district.
“He was working with Hizb as an overground worker, but joined the Lashkar once he became a militant. He was driven by religious beliefs but was focused on freedom for Kashmir,” a resident of Quimoh told The Kashmiriyat.
Government Force officials say Zargar was behind several major attacks, including the one in Nagrota and call him ‘a key recruiter.
A resident of Zargar’s Village in South Kashmir, who wishes anonymity said, “I have seen many Militants in my life, but i can tell you, he was the smartest of them all.”
Majid had brains like nobody else, he was skilled, he was a master and was the only man who got Lashkar e Taiba back in the map in South Kashmir, the resident told The Kashmiriyat.
He added that Zargar started the weapon snatching bids as he wanted to start an indigenous struggle, he wanted an Independent Kashmir with Islamic law.
The forces used heavy mortars against the Militants, he said, adding that Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) were planted, razing the house down where the militants were hiding to dust.
Majid was killed in a fierce encounter that lasted for many hours, five other houses in the vicinity were also damaged due to the usage of heavy explosive material.
In December 2016, Majid and his colleague Rahil Amin Dar alias Asif, a resident of Vesu-Qazigund was also killed and 42 hours later, their charred beyond recognition were recovered from the encounter site.
The villagers followed the funeral when Ghulam Mohudin Zargar, father of the slain militant Majid recognized some parts of his body.
Zargar’s elder brother, a former militant, was released after a jail term, His two uncles were militants in the mid-1990s but were killed. (The Kashmiriyat)