Our own killed Mirwaiz, Lone, Wani : Prof Bhat

KE News:

Srinagar: Senior Leader and former chairman Hurriyat Conference (M), Abdul Gani Bhat has said that the troops had played no role in the killings of pro-freedom leaders Mirwaiz Maulvi Muhammad Farooq and Abdul Gani Lone as well as Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) ideologue Prof. Abdul Ahad Wani.

"Lone sahib, Mirwaiz Farooq and Prof. Wani were not killed by the army or the police. They were targeted by our own people. The story is a long one, but we have to tell the truth," he said while addressing a seminar on 'Role of intellectuals in the Kashmir movement' here on Sunday.

Bhat, however, did not elaborate on what had transpired when the murders took place. He also did not mention the name of any terrorist group which killed them.

The day-long meet was organised by JKLF chairman Muhammad Yasin Malik to commemorate Wani's death anniversary. The three leaders were slain in separate incidents.

On May 21, 1990, unidentified gunmen barged into the downtown Srinagar residence of Mirwaiz Maulvi Farooq - the father of Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq - and assassinated him. Later, scores of people were killed when CRPF personnel fired upon his funeral procession near Islamia College in Srinagar.

A TADA court jailed former militant Muhammad Ayub Dar last year for the killing. The CBI charge sheet said Dar, along with two other terrorists, shot the Mirwaiz. Its charge sheet named five Hizbul commanders also.

Wani was killed on December 31, 1993, by unknown gunmen. He was a professor of law in Kashmir University and an advocate of the JKLF's views. The academic was in the vicinity of the Hazratbal shrine en route to the university when he was shot.

Hurriyat Conference (M) leader Lone was killed on May 21 in 2002. He was gunned down by unidentified assailants at a rally to mark the death anniversary of Mirwaiz Maulvi Farooq at Eidgah ground in old Srinagar city.

Bhat refused to be a part of any unity process between the separatist groups initiated by Umar Farooq. He said he would not be associated with any such move that would mean the "hegemony of any person."