One of J-K's most wanted militants Mohammad Ahsan Dar arrested

Baramulla (JK), Jan 14 (PTI) In a major success, a top
militant and one of the founders of Hizbul Mujahideen Mohammad
Ahsan Dar was Wednesday arrested by police in Bandipora
district of the border Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir.

Dar, a close associate of Syed Sallahuddin-- chief of
Hizbul Mujahideen, was co-ordinating activities of
Lashker-e-Toiba, Hizbul, Jaish-e-Mohammad and
Harkat-ul-Mujahideen, Deputy Inspector General of Police,
North Kashmir, Abdul Gani Mir told reporters here.

Acting on specific information that Dar had returned
from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (POK) and was co-ordinating the
activities of different militant outfits, Jammu and Kashmir
Police arrested him in the wee hours while he was trying to
sneak into Sumbal area from his home town Pattan, he said.

Dar, self-styled chief commander of Muslim Mujahideen,
offered no resistance while being arrested, Mir said.

The DIG said Dar had parted ways with Hizbul
Mujahideen following differences with the top brass of the
outfit and founded Muslim Mujahideen in 1992. He, however
remained close to Sallahuddin, who also heads the United Jehad
Council-- an amalgam of militant outfits active in the state

Dar, who is in his 50s, was arrested in 1993 and
released in 1999 after six years in detention, Mir said,
adding he had also visited Pakistan and has remained in close
contact with ISI and other Pakistani agencies. He has been
regularly receiving funds from them.

According to preliminary investigations, Dar had
infiltrated into the valley and was active since last one
year. Dar had organised various attacks on security forces and
was trying to give a fresh impetus to militant activities
within the state and in the rest of the country, Dar said.

Terming Dar as a "prized catch", Mir said an identity
card in the name of Mohammad Altaf, a teacher, was recovered
from him.

"It is a big success for Jammu and Kashmir Police that
we have nabbed him," he added.

Dar had first crossed over to Pak-occupied Kashmir in
1984 in a bid to get arms training. However, he failed in his
mission and again went their in 1988, the officer said.

After receiving arms training, he returned to the
valley the same year. He was arrested in 1988 but escaped from
a hospital. He went again across the Line of Control in 1989
and returned to lay the foundation of Hizbul Mujahideen and
became its chief commander, Mir said.

He had infiltrated into India via Bangladesh border.
Some incriminating documents have been recovered from him and
further investigations are on, the DIG said.

The DIG said investigations revealed that he had come
to the valley on more than one occasion during the past four
years.

Dar had met a number of militant leaders including
Atif and Abu Hurrarah of LET in Shopian district of South
Kashmir.