Riyaz Naikoo | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Commander ofHizbul Mujahideen | |
| In office 2017–2020 | |
| Preceded by | Zakir Musa |
| Succeeded by | Gazi Haider |
| Personal details | |
| Born | April 1985 Beighpora,Jammu & Kashmir, India |
| Died | 6 May 2020(2020-05-06) (aged 35) Beighpora,Jammu & Kashmir, India |
| Cause of death | Encounter |
| Resting place | Sonamarg |
| Citizenship | India |
| Education | Msc Physics |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Hizbul Mujahideen(2012–2020) |
| Activity years | 2010–2020 |
| Rank | Commander in chief |
| Battles/wars | Kashmir conflict |
Riyaz Ahmad Naikoo (also known asMohammad bin Qasim orZubair ul Islam,[1] April 1985 – 6 May 2020) was one of the top ten most wanted militant commanders of the Indianunion territory ofJammu and Kashmir. He was the operational chief ofHizbul Mujahideen and was the organization's longest serving field commander.[2][3]
Naikoo was born in Beighpora, a village inAwantiporatehsil of thePulwama district in theKashmir Valley ofJammu and Kashmir, India in April 1985 into aMuslim family.[4] Some of his relatives have said that he had a passion forpainting, especially roses, during his school and college days.[5] After earning a degree in mathematics he became a math teacher at a nearby school.[6][7][8] He gave free tuition to children from economically weaker backgrounds.[9]
His career transition from teacher to militancy came during the2010 Kashmir unrest when he was detained by the Indian security forces for his alleged support toseparatist protesters demanding Indian forces to Quit Kashmir[10] later he was released in 2012 after his release in the third week of May 2012 he left his home and disappeared then on 1 June 2012 he resurfaced with a gun and become amilitant ofHizb-ul-Mujahideen.[11] In 2017 he became the commander (de facto chief) ofHizb-ul-Mujahideen in Jammu and Kashmir after the death ofBurhan Wani and the defection ofZakir Musa.[12][13][14]
In March 2014, he was alleged to be involved in the killing of a Sarpanch's father, Haji Ghulam Mohd Dar in Dogripora. He was also wanted for killing and abduction of police officers, firing on a police bus and requirement in other crimes.[1][15]
In 2018, police detained Naikoo's 70-year-old father. In retaliation, family members of police were kidnapped by militants from across south Kashmir. His father was soon released and the 11 hostages were accordingly let go by Naikoo.[12][16][17][18] Jammu and Kashmir Police had alleged that he would "loot orchard owners".[4] Naikoo started the practice of offeringgun salutes to militants killed inencounters and posting them on social media. He was responsible for recruiting "scores of young Kashmiris in an armed quest for independence from India".[15] Police say he rarely used mobiles, used a VPN when he had to, and was known to have used the Bat Messenger app to communicate. Naikoo's videos were circulated on the social media; one such video after therevocation of the special status of Jammu and Kashmir showed him saying that the revocation was "irrelevant to us" and the fight would continue.[13][11][19][20] Naikoo carried a bounty of Rs 12 lakh on his head.
Naikoo's last audio message in April was related to theCOVID-19 pandemic where he requested people to follow medical advice to keep themselves protected.[21]
Naikoo was killed in anencounter with55 Rashtriya Rifles andJammu and Kashmir Police on 6 May 2020 in Beighpora.[13][1] He was with an associate, who was also killed.[13] The encounter was viewed as a victory for the security forces.[22][23][24][1] Naikoo had been among the top 10 on the most-wanted list in Kashmir.[25] As per policy, Naikoo's body was not handed back to his family.[26] He was one of Kashmir's longest surviving militants (May 2012 to May 2020 or for 8 years).[21]
As a precautionary measure to curb the spread of news, government authorities information imposed communications and information blackouts by barring internet and mobile services acrossKashmir Valley right after Naikoo's encounter.[27][28][29] Protests against the killing of Naikoo were the first since August 2019, when the revocation of Kashmir's special status took place, with at least one protester dying and 50 seriously injured with bullet wounds to the chest and some with pellet injuries in one or both eyes.[30][31]Syed Salahuddin, the head ofHizb-ul-Mujahideen, who is designated as a terrorist by India and the United States, said that "the sacrifice would help them achieve the mission that they had set out to achieve".[14] On 10 May 2020 Saifullah, also known as Gazi Haider, replaced Riyaz Naikoo as the new operations commander.[32]