https://indianpedia.org/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Farooq_Ahmed_DarFarooq Ahmed Dar - Revision history2026-07-31T14:49:25ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.45.4https://indianpedia.org/index.php?title=Farooq_Ahmed_Dar&diff=469223&oldid=prevCoolblack5 at 10:22, 24 March 20262026-03-24T10:22:53Z<p></p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{Short description|Indian Kashmiri militant}}<br />
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2018}}<br />
{{Use Indian English|date=April 2018}}<br />
{{Infobox person<br />
| name = Farooq Ahmed Dar<br />
| alt = Bitta Karate<br />
| native_name = <br />
| native_name_lang = <br />
| birth_name = Farooq Ahmed Dar<br />
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1973|01|01}}<br />
| birth_place = [[Srinagar]], [[Jammu and Kashmir (state)|J&K]], [[India]]<br />
| other_names = ''Bitta Karate''<br />
| years_active = 1990-date<br />
| organization = [[Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front|JKLF]]<br />
| known_for = Role in terrorism separatist activities during the [[Kashmir insurgency]] in 1990.<br />
| criminal_charge = Violation of [[Public Safety Act]].<br />
| criminal_penalty = ''Pending''<br />
| criminal_status = Arrested and detained by NIA<br />
| spouse = Assbah Arzoomand Khan<br />
| mother = Fatima<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''Farooq Ahmed Dar''' known by his [[nom de guerre]] '''Bitta Karate''', is a [[Kashmiris|Kashmiri]] separatist, militant and terrorist who currently serves as the chairman of the [[Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front]] (R) in the [[Kashmir Valley]] of [[Jammu and Kashmir (union territory)|Jammu and Kashmir]], [[India]].<br />
<br />
Dubbed as the "Butcher of Pandits," due to a confession interview<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-03-30 |title=Here's All About Bitta Karate, alleged as the 'Butcher of Kashmiri Pandits', Who Allegedly Killed 42 People but not in records |url=https://www.indiatimes.com/news/india/who-is-bitta-karate-butcher-of-kashmiri-pandits-565670.html |access-date=2024-06-06 |website=IndiaTimes |language=en-IN}}</ref> Dar has admitted on camera to massacring multiple [[Kashmiri Pandits|Kashmiri Hindu Pandits]] during the 1990 Kashmir insurgency leading up to the [[Exodus of Kashmiri Hindus]].<ref name="IT admitted"><br />
{{Cite news |author=India Today Web Desk |title=When JKLF leader Bitta Karate admitted to brutally killing 20 Kashmiri Pandits |work=India Today |date=22 May 2017 |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/bitta-karates-shocking-video-confession-when-the-jklf-leader-admitted-to-killing-20-kashmiri-pandits-978610-2017-05-22 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211127021808/https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/bitta-karates-shocking-video-confession-when-the-jklf-leader-admitted-to-killing-20-kashmiri-pandits-978610-2017-05-22 |archive-date=27 November 2021}}<br />
</ref><ref name="DNA back in Kashmir"><br />
{{cite news |last=Hassan |first=Ishfaq-ul |title='Butcher of Pandits' back in Kashmir hometown |work=DNA India |url=https://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-butcher-of-pandits-back-in-kashmir-hometown-1060576 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220121121236/https://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-butcher-of-pandits-back-in-kashmir-hometown-1060576 |archive-date=21 January 2022}}<br />
</ref>{{sfn|Pandita|2013|pp=66–67}}<ref><br />
{{cite AV media |title=Bitta Karate speaks: 1989 Rubaiya Sayeed's kidnap and the events in Kashmir thereafter. |publisher=WildFilmsIndia |via=[[YouTube]] |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VsDhlCBCD7Q |access-date=12 April 2022}}<br />
</ref><ref name="IT NIA moves"><br />
{{cite news |author=India Today Web Desk |title=India Today impact: NIA moves Hurriyat leaders 'Bitta Karate', 'Ghazi Baba' to unknown location for interrogation |work=India Today |date=25 May 2017 |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/bitta-karate-hurriyat-tapes-kashmiri-pandits-nia-jklf-979111-2017-05-25 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220121122403/https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/bitta-karate-hurriyat-tapes-kashmiri-pandits-nia-jklf-979111-2017-05-25 |archive-date=21 January 2022}}<br />
</ref> He was imprisoned from 1990 until 2006 under terrorism-related charges before being released on bail. He was arrested again in 2019 for [[terrorism financing|financing terrorism]].<ref name="TOI terror funding"><br />
{{cite news |title=Separatist leaders arrested for terror funding accuse NIA of delaying case |work=The Times of India |date=13 March 2019 |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/separatist-leaders-arrested-for-terror-funding-accuse-nia-of-delaying-case/articleshow/68396415.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220121123020/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/separatist-leaders-arrested-for-terror-funding-accuse-nia-of-delaying-case/articleshow/68396415.cms |archive-date=21 January 2022 }}<br />
</ref><br />
<br />
==Early life==<br />
Dar was born on 1 January 1973 in the Guru Bazar neighbourhood of the city of [[Srinagar]] in the [[Kashmir Valley]] of [[Jammu and Kashmir (state)|Jammu and Kashmir]], [[India]] into a [[Kashmiri Muslim]] family of the [[Dar (surname)|Dar]] clan. While "Bitta" was his [[Hypocorism|pet name]], he was given the suffix "Karate" because of his mastery in [[martial arts]]. Dar used to work for his [[family business]] until he left his home to become a militant in his early 20s. He became infamous during the militancy of the 1990s.<ref name=kashmirnewz.com>{{cite news |last=Hamid |first=Peerzada Arshad |title=The Verdict Violated |publisher=kashmirnewz.com |date=12 June 2006 |url=http://www.kashmirnewz.com/story12d01062006.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220120071936/http://www.kashmirnewz.com/story12d01062006.html |archive-date=20 January 2022}}</ref><br />
<br />
==Terrorism==<br />
In 1988, Farooq Ahmed Dar was taken across the [[Line of Control|LoC]] to [[Azad Jammu and Kashmir|Pakistan-administered Kashmir]] by the then [[Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front|JKLF]] chief commander [[Ashfaq Majeed Wani]] for armed training. Dar was [[blindfold]]ed and then taken to Pakistan-administered Kashmir along with other "trainees" where they received 32-day armed training.<ref name="IT Bitta Karate said"><br />
{{citation |author=India Today Web Desk|title=Kashmir genocide: What Bitta Karate aka Farooq Ahmed Dar said 31 years ago |newspaper=India Today |date=16 March 2022 |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/kashmir-genocide-bitta-karate-aka-farooq-ahmed-dar-the-kashmir-files-1925979-2022-03-16}}<br />
</ref>{{additional citation needed|date=April 2025}}<br />
<br />
Farooq Ahmad Dar operated as a militant of the [[Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front]] and participated in the militant activities.<ref name="IT admitted"/><br />
He has admitted on camera to have killed over 20 Kashmiri Pandits.<ref name="IT admitted"/>{{sfn|Pandita|2013|pp=66–67}} His first victim was a young businessman, Satish Kumar Tickoo, whom Dar knew and often took a lift from. Tickoo was called out of his house and shot to be killed on 2 February 1990.{{sfn|Pandita|2013|pp=65–66}}<ref name="Hindu Down South"><br />
{{cite news |last=Pandita |first=Rahul |title=A Cry For Kashmiri Pandits From Down South |newspaper=The Hindu |date=21 April 2016 |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/a-cry-for-kashmiri-pandits-from-down-south/article6305496.ece |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220121124607/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/a-cry-for-kashmiri-pandits-from-down-south/article6305496.ece |archive-date=21 January 2022 }}<br />
</ref><br />
He apparently used to get orders (for execution) from [[Ashfaq Majeed Wani]] or other superiors in the [[Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front|JKLF]].<ref name="IT Bitta Karate said"/><br />
According to Kashmiri Muslim sources in downtown Kashmir, Dar would walk armed on the streets of [[Srinagar]] in search of Kashmiri Pandits and on spotting, he would take out his pistol and shoot at them.<ref name="Caravan pathology"><br />
{{cite news |last=Pandita |first=Rahul |title=The Pathology of Oversight |newspaper=The Caravan |date=13 February 2015 |url=https://caravanmagazine.in/vantage/farooq-ahmed-dar-bjp-politics-kashmir |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220121130758/https://caravanmagazine.in/vantage/farooq-ahmed-dar-bjp-politics-kashmir |archive-date=21 January 2022 }}<br />
</ref><ref name="Hindu Down South" /> He used [[pistol]]s to kill civilians and [[AK-47]] to attack and fire at [[Indian Security Forces]]. He admitted to killing at least 20 people in 1990 during the insurgency.<ref name="IT Bitta Karate said"/><ref name="IT admitted"/> According to the convener of [[Panun Kashmir]], he had admitted to killing 42 Kashmiri Pandits.<ref name="DNA back in Kashmir"/> Dar later claimed that he hadn't killed any Pandits and that the statement was made under duress.<ref name="IT NIA moves"/><ref name="IT Bitta Karate said"/><br />
<br />
===1990 arrest ===<br />
Farooq Ahmed Dar, along with two of his associates, was arrested by [[Border Security Force]] on 22 June 1990 from [[Srinagar]]. He was arrested and [[Detention (imprisonment)|detained]] under the Public Safety Act and had 19 cases against him. He remained under detention for 16 years and was released on indefinite bail in October 2006. Dar was detained in various prisons across India. He served time in Kot Bhalwal Jail in [[Jammu]], District Jail in [[Kathua]], Central Jail in [[Jodhpur]], Central Jail in [[Agra]] etc.<ref name="DNA back in Kashmir"/><ref name=kashmirnewz.com/><ref name="Hindu Down South" /><ref name="Caravan pathology"/><ref name="oneindia warm reception"><br />
{{cite news |title=Warm reception to Bitta Karate in Srinagar on his release |publisher=oneindia.com |date=27 October 2006 |url=http://www.oneindia.com/2006/10/27/warm-reception-to-bitta-karate-in-srinagar-on-his-release-1161948974.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220121134131/https://www.oneindia.com/2006/10/27/warm-reception-to-bitta-karate-in-srinagar-on-his-release-1161948974.html |archive-date=21 January 2022}}<br />
</ref><br />
<br />
===2006 indefinite bail and release===<br />
On 23 October 2006, a court enforcing [[Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act]] (TADA court) in [[Jammu]] granted bail to Dar and he was handed over to his family on 25 October 2006.<ref name="Caravan pathology"/><ref name="oneindia warm reception" /> He was initially granted bail for four months against a [[bail bond]] and personal surety of {{INRConvert|1|l|1|no|to=USD|year=2006}} each. Dar was released after spending 16 years in jail. His detention under the Public Safety Act was quashed by the [[Supreme Court of India]] before his release from jail. His release was condemned by several Kashmiri Pandit organizations. Dar got a warm reception from his supporters in Kashmir. Large number of supporters assembled at his house where flower petals and [[confetti]] was showered on him. Then, Dar was taken out in a procession to an [[Eidgah]] where prayers were offered.<ref name="DNA back in Kashmir"/><ref name="oneindia warm reception" /><br />
<br />
While dictating the verdict, the TADA court judge, Justice Wani remarked:<br />
{{Blockquote|The court is aware of the fact that the allegations against the accused are of serious nature and carry a punishment of death sentence or life imprisonment but the fact is that the prosecution has shown total disinterest in arguing the case.<ref name="Caravan pathology"/>}}<br />
<br />
===2006-2019 political career===<br />
Upon release from detention, Dar joined the [[Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front]] (R) where he worked his way up to become its chairman.<br />
<br />
===2019 arrest and detention in terror funding case===<br />
The [[National Investigation Agency]] (NIA) arrested him again in 2019 on charges of [[Terrorism financing|terror funding]].<ref name="TOI terror funding"/> NIA has charged Dar, Sayeed Salahudeen, and others of "conspiring to wage war against the government" and fomenting trouble in the Kashmir Valley.<ref name="TOI terror funding"/> His co-accused is the [[Hizbul Mujahideen]]'s head [[Sayeed Salahudeen]].<ref name="TOI terror funding"/><br />
<br />
A Kashmiri pandit has called for the reopening of the trial against Dar.<ref>{{Cite web |date=16 April 2022 |agency=PTI |title=Hearing in Bitta Karate case deferred |url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/j-k/hearing-in-bitta-karate-case-deferred-386905 |access-date=2022-04-26 |website=The Tribune India}}</ref><br />
<br />
==See also==<br />
* [[Persecution of Hindus]]<br />
* [[Exodus of Kashmiri Hindus]]<br />
* [[2003 Nadimarg massacre|2003 Nadimarg massacre of Kashmiri Hindus]]<br />
* [[1998 Wandhama massacre|1998 Wandhama massacre of Kashmiri Hindus]]<br />
* [[Insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir|Kashmir intifada]]<br />
* [[Terrorism in India]]<br />
* [[Islamic terrorism#India|Islamic Terrorism in India]]<br />
* [[Pakistan and state-sponsored terrorism|Pakistani-sponsored terrorism in India]]<br />
<br />
== Notes ==<br />
{{notelist}}<br />
<br />
== References ==<br />
{{reflist}}<br />
<br />
== Bibliography ==<br />
* {{cite book |last=Pandita |first=Rahul |date=2013 |title=Our Moon Has Blood Clots: The Exodus of the Kashmiri Pandits |publisher=Random House India |isbn=978-81-8400-390-1 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kuY1glf2n0YC&pg=PT66}}<br />
<br />
==External links==<br />
* Manoj Raghuvanshi, [https://www.newslaundry.com/2017/05/29/bitta-karate-kashmir-jammu-kashmir-liberation-front Portrait of a Killer: An interview with Bitta Karate], Newstrack (via Newslaundry), 29 May 2017, original footage from 1990.<br />
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AsugXE_1dt0&t=1189s JKLF Leader Bitta Karate Admits To Killing 20 Kashmiri Pandits], India Today (via YouTube), 23 May 2017.<br />
<br />
{{Portal bar|India}}<br />
{{Kashmir separatist movement}}<br />
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Dar, Farooq Ahmed}}<br />
[[Category:Living people]]<br />
[[Category:1973 births]]<br />
[[Category:Kashmiri people]]<br />
[[Category:21st-century Indian Muslims]]<br />
[[Category:Kashmiri Muslims]]<br />
[[Category:People from Srinagar]]<br />
[[Category:21st-century Indian criminals]]<br />
[[Category:Kashmiri militants]]<br />
[[Category:Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front]]</div>Coolblack5