Al-badr, Pak militant group, in revival mode
› Cops are harassing family members of militants and damaging their properties. They should not do that otherwise they will face serious consequences.
HUMZA BURHAN, divisional commander, Al-badr, South Kashmir
SRINAGAR : : Two years ago when 38-year-old Muzaffar Ahmad Naikoo alias Muz Molvi was killed on the outskirts of Srinagar, he was the lone militant of Al-badr militant group.
Now, with fresh recruitments, it seems, especially in South Kashmir that this outfit, which is on run from Pakistan is on the path of its revival.
In a video that has gone viral on the social media, three youths brandishing, AK-47 rifles have claimed the responsibility for the grenade attack on the CRPF in Tahab Pulwama in South Kashmir and have vowed to continue their attacks on the forces personnel and the political workers.
In the video, a gun man who introduces himself as Humza Burhan, divisional commander, Al-badr, South Kashmir claims the responsibility for the attack on forces in Pulwama.
“We have been active since 1990. Currently, we are 100 members and in coming days our strength will go up to 200,’’ he said and warned local policemen to mend their ways otherwise they would face serious consequences.
“The policemen are harassing family members of the militants and damaging their properties.they should not do that otherwise they will face serious consequences. They should remember the incident of Budgam as their fate could be same,’’ he said while referring to the incident in which militants set ablaze a police officer’s vehicle.
The militant commander also asked common people to stay away from army, police and politicians as they could be targeted any time.
“We also apologise to civilians who got injured in the grenade attack. People should stay away from the force personnel and the rallies of politicians because they could be targeted any time.’’
Officials said revival has taken place two years after the killing of Naikoo who was acting as a lone wolf on the behalf of Al-badr, a banned terror outfit based in Pakistan.
A resident of North Kashmir’s Sopore town, Naikoo was active as a militant for over a decade and was designated as an A++ category militant and after parting ways from Laskhar, he joined Al-badr in 2011 or 2012.
Naikoo’s killing was a big setback for Al-badr and its plans to gain a foothold in the Valley.