Militant Musa asks Muslims to launch ‘holy war’ against cow vigilantes

SRINAGAR:A radical militant commander, who severed ties with the Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) to wage a war for an Islamic Kashmir, urged India’s Muslims on Monday to launch a jihad against cow protection vigilantes.

Zakir Musa’s call for a holy war on those who claim to be gau rakshaks – or cow protectors – was released in a 4-minute audio clip and is the first public statement by a Kashmiri militant on the self-styled vigilante groups.

HT could not verify the authenticity of the clip, which appeared to be similar to earlier messages which were confirmed to be by Musa, a Kashmiri militant who was once seen as the successor of HM’s slain commander Burhan Wani.

Musa, 23, is known as a hardline militant who last month threatened to behead separatist Hurriyat leaders for calling Kashmir a political issue. HM refused to back Musa’s idea of an Islamic Kashmir and he quit the outfit in protest.

Several Muslim men have been killed across India in the past three years on suspicion of consuming beef or transporting cattle for slaughter.

“See how much blood is being spilt in the name of gau raksha,” a man believed to be Musa is heard saying in the clip, which was widely circulated on social media and messaging apps.

“We will take revenge for every atrocity. Muslims of India, there is still time to emerge. Form groups and do jihad against these kafirs (infidels). Show these gau rakshaks what it means being a Muslim. Learn from your history,” added Musa, a former engineering student.

A few weeks ago, a family of nomadic herders were allegedly assaulted by gau rakshaks in Jammu, the Hindu-dominated region of the state.

Musa also exhorted Muslims to help establish Shariah, the code on which Islamic laws are based.

“This war is not of Kashmir only. This war is between Islam and infidelity...We will establish Shariah not only in India but in the whole world,” Musa said.

He also censured Indian Muslims for their alleged timidity.

MILITANT COMMANDER ALSO EXHORTED THE COUNTRY’S MUSLIMS TO HELP ESTABLISH SHARIAH, THE CODE ON WHICH ISLAMIC LAWS ARE BASED