Two terrorists of ISIS’ local cell Wilayah al-Hind, were killed by Indian security forces in Shopian encounter... Read More

NEW DELHI: Two terrorists of ISIS’ local cell Wilayah al-Hind, were killed by Indian security forces in an encounter in Awneera area of Shopian district on Tuesday morning.

Police sources said the two terrorists, 30-year-old Sayar Ahmad Bhat of Yaripora Kulgam and 19-year-old Shakir Ahmad Wagay of Awneera Shopian, were wanted for their involvement in terror related activities including attacks on security establishments.

Though the police called them merely ISIS-sympathizers, a screenshot of the ISIS statement in Arabic, probably published on their website, suggested that the terror group owned the affiliation of the two terrorists. While police was still verifying the authenticity of the ISIS claim, the screenshot was circulated on social media.

Kashmir police sources said both Sayar and Shakir were school dropouts. While Sayar, son of Sonaullah Bhat of Machewa Kulgam, was reportedly missing since March 17, Shakir, son of Mohammad Khalil Wagay of Awneera Shopian Quali, left his home on January 04, this year.

Incidentally, a five-minute Wilayah al-Hind promotional video with Shakir as a proselytizer, was shared on Whatsapp groups by ISIS sympathizers in Kashmir.

Accessed exclusively by the TOI, in the video Shakir wearing a black headgear, black polo-neck shirt and an ammunition jacket, is seen lashing out at Pakistan and Kashmiri separatists while sitting against the backdrop of the ISIS black flag hung from two pine trees.

With a Kalashnikov showcased against the trunk of one of the two trees, Shakir in thick Kashmiri accented Urdu, is heard saying, “After the Pulwama attack, Pakistan and Pakistani agencies betrayed the ongoing jihad in Kashmir by shutting down training camps of all the (terror) outfits. All the Pakistan based and related (terror) groups are finding themselves orphaned today. That is because instead of trusting Allah and religion, they trusted Pakistan.”

It is not clear from the footage where and when the video was shot.

Fuming at the Hurriyat Conference, Shakir in the video points out that the separatists call ‘mujahideen’ “agents” and “spies” while they are alive and honor them only for their sinful politics when they are “martyred”. Ridiculing Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin, Shakir calls him “an American slave living off Pakistani crumbs like a dog.” He issues warrants against his own people on the orders of the ISI, Shakir says adding that “Pakistan is not a friend, but a huge enemy of the faith of Islam.”

Shakir argues that these were the reasons why, he and his comrades had decided to reject the authority of Pakistan and accept only Allah’s command.

The 19-year-old urges all “those who have entered the battle field for the sake of only Allah, whether you are Ansar Ghazwat ul Hind (al Qaeda affiliate of Kashmir), Lashkar-e-Taiba, Hizbul Mujahideen, Jaish-e-Mohammad, Al Badr or Tehreek ul-Mujahideen,” to join Wilayah al-Hind. “Let us free you from idol of nationhood and take you on the pure path of jihad. Come join us to establish Allah’s nizam on Allah’s land. March forward for the establishment of Caliphate,” he preaches.

Interestingly, Shakir also appeals to the Muslims of India to join his outfit and the war against Hindu India. “Before Lahore and Islamabad give your exact pin drop locations to the idolatrous Hindu police, we ask the Muslims living in Hindustan, establish contact with mujahideen and fill every nook and corner of Hindustan with the blood of Hindus.”

The establishment of Wilayah al-Hind has been officially declared, he says, adding, “Now it is your turn.”

Counter-insurgency analysts in Srinagar said, Wilayah al-Hind is the same as Ghazwa-e-Hind, an Islamic prophecy that a great battle in India will result in a conquest of the Indian sub-continent by Muslim warriors.

