Jump to content

Riyaz Naikoo: Difference between revisions

Add links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
No edit summary
Tags: Mobile edit Mobile web edit
No edit summary
Tags: references removed Mobile edit Mobile web edit
Line 18: Line 18:


== Life ==
== Life ==
Naikoo was born in Beighpora, a village in [[Awantipora]] tehsil, [[Pulwama district]], in April 1985.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Riyaz Naikoo — dreaded militant who 'looted farmers and brought new ruthlessness to Hizbul'|url=https://theprint.in/india/riyaz-naikoo-a-maths-graduate-who-looted-farmers-and-brought-new-ruthlessness-to-hizbul/415831/|last=Javaid|first=Azaan|date=6 May 2020|website=ThePrint|language=en-US|access-date=7 May 2020}}</ref> Some of his relatives have said that he had a passion for [[painting]], especially roses, during his school and college days.<ref>Ahmed Ali Fayyaz (7 May 2020), [https://www.thequint.com/voices/opinion/riyaz-naikoo-killed-jammu-kashmir-terrorism-militancy-hizbul-poster-boys-pakistan "With Riyaz Naikoo's Death, Has Era of Militant Poster Boys Ended?"], ''[[The Quint]]''. Retrieved 13 May 2020.</ref> After earning a degree in mathematics he became a math teacher at a nearby school.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Math Teacher To Hizbul's Longest-Serving Chief: Who was Riyaz Naikoo?|url=https://hwnews.in/news/national-news/math-teacher-to-hizbuls-longest-serving-chief-who-was-riyaz-naikoo/135918|date=7 May 2020|website=HW English|language=en-US|access-date=7 May 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=6 May 2020|title=Top rebel commander killed by Indian forces in Kashmir|language=en|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/06/top-rebel-commander-killed-by-indian-forces-in-kashmir|access-date=7 May 2020}}</ref> He gave free tuition to children from economically weaker backgrounds.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Riyaz Naikoo — dreaded militant who 'looted farmers and brought new ruthlessness to Hizbul'|url=https://theprint.in/india/riyaz-naikoo-a-maths-graduate-who-looted-farmers-and-brought-new-ruthlessness-to-hizbul/415831/|last=Javaid|first=Azaan|date=6 May 2020|website=ThePrint|language=en-US|access-date=23 May 2020}}</ref>
Naikoo was born in Beighpora, a village in [[Awantipora]] tehsil, [[Pulwama district]], in April 1985.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Riyaz Naikoo — dreaded militant who 'looted farmers and brought new ruthlessness to Hizbul'|url=https://theprint.in/india/riyaz-naikoo-a-maths-graduate-who-looted-farmers-and-brought-new-ruthlessness-to-hizbul/415831/|last=Javaid|first=Azaan|date=6 May 2020|website=ThePrint|language=en-US|access-date=7 May 2020}}</ref> Some of his relatives have said that he had a passion for [[painting]], especially roses, during his school and college days.<ref>Ahmed Ali Fayyaz (7 May 2020), [https://www.thequint.com/voices/opinion/riyaz-naikoo-killed-jammu-kashmir-terrorism-militancy-hizbul-poster-boys-pakistan "With Riyaz Naikoo's Death, Has Era of Militant Poster Boys Ended?"], ''[[The Quint]]''. Retrieved 13 May 2020.</ref> After earning a degree in mathematics he became a math teacher at a nearby school.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Math Teacher To Hizbul's Longest-Serving Chief: Who was Riyaz Naikoo?|url=https://hwnews.in/news/national-news/math-teacher-to-hizbuls-longest-serving-chief-who-was-riyaz-naikoo/135918|date=7 May 2020|website=HW English|language=en-US|access-date=7 May 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=6 May 2020|title=Top rebel commander killed by Indian forces in Kashmir|language=en|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/06/top-rebel-commander-killed-by-indian-forces-in-kashmir|access-date=7 May 2020}}{{Cite web|title=Riyaz Naikoo — dreaded militant who 'looted farmers and brought new ruthlessness to Hizbul'|url=https://theprint.in/india/riyaz-naikoo-a-maths-graduate-who-looted-farmers-and-brought-new-ruthlessness-to-hizbul/415831/|last=Javaid|first=Azaan|date=6 May 2020|website=ThePrint|language=en-US|access-date=23 May 2020}}</ref>


During the [[2010 Kashmir unrest|2010 unrest]], he was put under [[Detention (imprisonment)|detention]] by the security forces. On 1 June 2012 he disappeared and resurfaced with a gun. In the next five years he lived the life of a militant and rose to become the [[Hizbul Mujahideen|Hizb-ul-Mujahideen]] commander ([[de facto]] chief) in Jammu and Kashmir after the death of [[Burhan Wani]] and the defection of [[Zakir Musa]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title=Who was Riyaz Ahmad Naikoo, the Hizbul Mujahideen commander?|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/who-was-riyaz-ahmad-naikoo-hizbul-mujahideen-6396915/|last=Masood|first=Bashaarat|date=7 May 2020|website=The Indian Express|language=en-US|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=7 May 2020}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web|title=Valley's most wanted militant Riyaz Naikoo killed in Awantipora encounter|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/jammu-kashmir-militant-riyaz-naikoo-killed-awantipora-encounter-6397625/|last=Masood|first=Bashaarat|last2=Iqbal|first2=Naveed|date=7 May 2020|newspaper=[[The Indian Express]]|language=en-US|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=7 May 2020|last3=Adil|first3=Akhzer}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite web|title=Riyaz Naikoo setback upsets Syed Salahuddin, says the spark will spread in region|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/riyaz-naikoo-setback-upsets-syed-salahuddin-says-the-spark-will-spread-in-region/story-TfBIKLGprQk6uTmYhwOldM.html|last=Gupta|first=Shishir|date=7 May 2020|newspaper=[[Hindustan Times]]|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=8 May 2020}}</ref>
During the [[2010 Kashmir unrest|2010 unrest]], he was put under [[Detention (imprisonment)|detention]] by the security forces. On 1 June 2012 he disappeared and resurfaced with a gun. In the next five years he lived the life of a militant and rose to become the [[Hizbul Mujahideen|Hizb-ul-Mujahideen]] commander ([[de facto]] chief) in Jammu and Kashmir after the death of [[Burhan Wani]] and the defection of [[Zakir Musa]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title=Who was Riyaz Ahmad Naikoo, the Hizbul Mujahideen commander?|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/who-was-riyaz-ahmad-naikoo-hizbul-mujahideen-6396915/|last=Masood|first=Bashaarat|date=7 May 2020|website=The Indian Express|language=en-US|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=7 May 2020}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web|title=Valley's most wanted militant Riyaz Naikoo killed in Awantipora encounter|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/jammu-kashmir-militant-riyaz-naikoo-killed-awantipora-encounter-6397625/|last=Masood|first=Bashaarat|last2=Iqbal|first2=Naveed|date=7 May 2020|newspaper=[[The Indian Express]]|language=en-US|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=7 May 2020|last3=Adil|first3=Akhzer}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite web|title=Riyaz Naikoo setback upsets Syed Salahuddin, says the spark will spread in region|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/riyaz-naikoo-setback-upsets-syed-salahuddin-says-the-spark-will-spread-in-region/story-TfBIKLGprQk6uTmYhwOldM.html|last=Gupta|first=Shishir|date=7 May 2020|newspaper=[[Hindustan Times]]|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=8 May 2020}}</ref>

Revision as of 09:16, 29 June 2020

Riyaz Naikoo
BornApril 1985
Beighpora, Jammu and Kashmir, India
Died6 May 2020(2020-05-06) (aged 35)
Beighpora, Jammu and Kashmir, India
Buried
Sonamarg
AllegianceHizbul Mujahideen (2012–2020)
Activity years2010–2020
RankCommander
Battles / warsKashmir conflict

Riyaz Ahmad Naikoo (also known as Mohammad bin Qasim or Zubair ul Islam,[1] April 1985 – 6 May 2020) was a terrorist commander in the rebel group Hizb-ul-Mujahideen and one of the top ten most wanted rebels in the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir, India. He died in a gun battle with Indian security forces on 6 May 2020.

Life

Naikoo was born in Beighpora, a village in Awantipora tehsil, Pulwama district, in April 1985.[2] Some of his relatives have said that he had a passion for painting, especially roses, during his school and college days.[3] After earning a degree in mathematics he became a math teacher at a nearby school.[4][5]

During the 2010 unrest, he was put under detention by the security forces. On 1 June 2012 he disappeared and resurfaced with a gun. In the next five years he lived the life of a militant and rose to become the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen commander (de facto chief) in Jammu and Kashmir after the death of Burhan Wani and the defection of Zakir Musa.[6][7][8]

In March 2014, he was involved in killing of a Sarpanch’s father Haji Ghulam Mohd Dar in Dogripora. He was also wanted for killing and abduction of police officers, murder, firing on a police bus, looting and terror requirement among other crimes.[1] [9]

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.[6][10][11][12] Jammu and Kashmir Police had alleged that he would "loot orchard owners".[2] Naikoo started the practice of offering gun salutes to militants killed in encounters and posting them on social media. He was responsible for recruiting "scores of young Kashmiris in an armed quest for independence from India".[9] 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 the revocation of the special status of Jammu and Kashmir showed him saying that the revocation was "irrelevant to us" and the fight would continue.[7][13][14][15]

Naikoo’s last audio message in April was related to the COVID-19 pandemic where he requested people to follow medical advice to keep themselves protected.Cite error: A <ref> tag is missing the closing </ref> (see the help page).[16][17] [1]Naikoo had been a category A++ terrorist and was in the top 10 on the most-wanted list in Kashmir.[18] As per policy Naikoo's body was not handed back to his family.[19] He was one of Kashmir's longest surviving militants (May 2012 to May 2020 or for 8 years).[20]

As a precautionary measure to curb the spread of news, government authorities information imposed communications and information blackouts by barring internet and mobile services across Kashmir valley right after Naikoo's assassination.[21][22][23] 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.[24][25] Syed Salahuddin, the head of Hizb-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".[8] On 10 May 2020 Saifullah, also known as Gazi Haider, replaced Riyaz Naikoo as the new operations commander.[26]

References

  1. ^ a b c Gupta, Sihir (6 May 2020). "Top Hizbul terrorist Riyaz Naikoo was hiding in south Kashmir bunker; killed in overnight op". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 26 June 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  2. ^ a b Javaid, Azaan (6 May 2020). "Riyaz Naikoo — dreaded militant who 'looted farmers and brought new ruthlessness to Hizbul'". ThePrint. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
  3. ^ Ahmed Ali Fayyaz (7 May 2020), "With Riyaz Naikoo's Death, Has Era of Militant Poster Boys Ended?", The Quint. Retrieved 13 May 2020.
  4. ^ "Math Teacher To Hizbul's Longest-Serving Chief: Who was Riyaz Naikoo?". HW English. 7 May 2020. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
  5. ^ "Top rebel commander killed by Indian forces in Kashmir". The Guardian. 6 May 2020. Retrieved 7 May 2020.Javaid, Azaan (6 May 2020). "Riyaz Naikoo — dreaded militant who 'looted farmers and brought new ruthlessness to Hizbul'". ThePrint. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
  6. ^ a b Masood, Bashaarat (7 May 2020). "Who was Riyaz Ahmad Naikoo, the Hizbul Mujahideen commander?". The Indian Express. Retrieved 7 May 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  7. ^ a b Masood, Bashaarat; Iqbal, Naveed; Adil, Akhzer (7 May 2020). "Valley's most wanted militant Riyaz Naikoo killed in Awantipora encounter". The Indian Express. Retrieved 7 May 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  8. ^ a b Gupta, Shishir (7 May 2020). "Riyaz Naikoo setback upsets Syed Salahuddin, says the spark will spread in region". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 8 May 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  9. ^ a b Yasir, Sameer; Schultz, Kai; Kirmani, Iqbal (6 May 2020). "Top Kashmiri Militant Is Killed, Sparking Protests and Rage". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
  10. ^ "Police releases father of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Riyaz Naikoo after detaining him for 2 days". Firstpost. 31 August 2018. Retrieved 7 May 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  11. ^ Mir, Hilal (6 May 2020). "Kashmir: Head of key militant group killed in gunfight". Anadolu Agency. Retrieved 7 May 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  12. ^ Chaturvedi, Maneesha (7 May 2020). "Math Teacher To Hizbul's Longest-Serving Chief: Who was Riyaz Naikoo?". HW English. Retrieved 7 May 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  13. ^ Jameel, Yusuf (7 May 2020). "From math teacher to militant: Riyaz Naikoo said Art 370 abrogation was irrelevant". Deccan Chronicle. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
  14. ^ Jain, Bharti; Pandit, M. Saleem (7 May 2020). "Riyaz Naikoo: became a dreaded terror overlord". The Times of India. Retrieved 7 May 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  15. ^ Bhalla, Abhishek (7 May 2020). "Betrayed by own, Riyaz Bhai is still fighting: Conversation of terrorists during Kashmir encounter". India Today. Retrieved 7 May 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  16. ^ Ahmad, Mudasir (6 May 2020). "Hizbul Mujahideen 'Operational Chief' Riyaz Naikoo Killed by Security Forces: Who Was He?". The Wire. Retrieved 7 May 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  17. ^ Masoodi, Nazir; Som, Vishnu. Ghosh, Deepshikha (ed.). "Police Got To Most Wanted Terrorist Through The Man Who Got Him His Food". NDTV. Retrieved 8 May 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  18. ^ "Riyaz Naikoo, Kashmir's most wanted terrorist, carries Rs 12 lakh reward". Hindustan Times. 6 May 2020. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
  19. ^ "Indian forces kill top Kashmir militant". BBC News. 6 May 2020. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
  20. ^ Cite error: The named reference :3 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  21. ^ "Mobile Internet suspended in Kashmir". The Hindu. PTI. 6 May 2020. Retrieved 8 May 2020.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  22. ^ Malik, Saqib (6 May 2020). "Shutting down phones, internet affects Covid fight". Greater Kashmir. Retrieved 8 May 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  23. ^ "Riyaz Naikoo encounter: Mobile internet services snapped in Kashmir Valley". Times Now. 6 May 2020 – via economictimes.indiatimes.com.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  24. ^ Jameel, Yusuf (7 May 2020). "Civilian killed in police firing as protests flare up in Riyaz Naikoo's village". Deccan Chronicle. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
  25. ^ "Kashmir clashes continue for third day over killing of top rebel". Al Jazeera. www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
  26. ^ IANS (10 May 2020). "Hizbul Mujahideen appoints new terror commander in Kashmir". Outlook India. Retrieved 11 May 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)

Further reading

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=Riyaz_Naikoo&oldid=965084148"