Ghost of IC 814 returns to haunt the Valley

The ghost of the hijacking of IC 814 has returned to haunt the Jammu and Kashmir government after two of the 20 accused arrested in the lynching case of Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP) Mohammad Ayub Pandith turned out to be the nephews of Al Umar chief Mushtaq Ahmad Zargar, who was one among the three terrorists released in exchange of the passengers of the Indian Airlines flight in 1999.

Police sources said Adil Siraj and Dawood are Zargar’s nephews. Police sources said the duo were involved in stone-pelting cases and have been imprisoned as well.

“During the investigations into the case of DySP’s lynching, their names cropped up. After further digging, we found clear evidence against them and accordingly they were arrested,” said an officer.

Pandith, 57, was stripped, paraded, and lynched by mob outside the Jamia Masjid at Nowhatta during Shab-e-Qadr (night of prayers in Ramzan) on June 22.

Zargar was among the three terrorists — including Masood Azhar and Ahmad Syed Omar Sheikh — released in 1999. Azhar went on to head Jaish-e-Mohommad. Sheikh was arrested by Pakistani forces and sentenced to death for killing Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl. Zargar floated the Al Umar terror outfit in 1990. 

The police have so far arrested 20 assailants involved in the Pandith’s lynching and one of the accused was killed in an encounter with security forces on July 12 at Redbugh, Budgam.