The Jammu and Kashmir Police has confirmed the Islamic State's claim that Muhamamd Taufeeq, who was killed with two local militants, at Anantnag's Hakkora, in south Kashmir on March 11, was from the south Indian state of Telangana. The confirmation has left the security agencies worried that boys like Taufeeq could influence more Indian youth from other states to turn to Kashmir for jihad worsening an already fragile situation in the valley.
Initially, the Kashmir police had denied the claims by Ansar and Islamic State, but on Wednesday, state DGP S.P. Vaid tweeted: “It's learnt that Md Toufeeq, age 26 years, N/o Manuguru died in an encounter with security forces on night 11/12 March in Hakkora of Anantnag district along with two other Kashmiri militants. He was radicalised into Islamic State ideology through social media and went to Kashmir to participate in terrorist activities of ISIS. He was not wanted in any of the criminal cases in Telengana state. Further details are being verified and will be updated to the media accordingly.”
The confirmation has come after Senior Superintendent of Police Anantnag Altaf Khan wrote to DGP Telengana seeking his help for verifying the claims made by the two pan-jihadi groups.
Earlier, the Islamic State and pan-Isamist Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind, in its bulletin Al Nasir had claimed that Taufeeq was from Hyderabad and had migrated to Kashmir for jihad. It had also posted Taufeeq's photo with another militant in military fatigues.
According to Al Nasir, Taufeeq had began his jihadi journey in 2017 after making hijrah (migration) from Hyderabad to the mountains of Kashmir, and was among the first in the ranks of Ansar Gazwat-ul-Hind. It had also posted a photo of Taufeeq with Rehan Khan, deputy Ameer of the jihadi group.
Al Nasir bulletin claiming Taufeeq was from Hyderabad and had migrated to Kashmir for jihad
Also read
“Mohommad Taufeeq became the first mujahid in recent history to make hijrah (migration) to Kashmir and began the work of preaching. His jihadi names were Sultan Zabul Al Hindi and Abu Zarrr Al Hindi,” the bulletin said.
The two other militants killed with Taufeeq were identified as Muammad Eisa Fazili of Soura, Srinagar and Syed Owais of Anantnag. The bodies of both the militants were handed over to their families for burial while Taufeeq was buried at Gantumula in Barmulla.