Mushtaq Ahmad Lone, Editor "Wehdat-e-Milli"

By: Sheikh Gulzaar

e-mail: gulzar@journalist.com, writerasia@in.com

The Special Operation Group of JK Police claimed to have eliminated the " acting chief" of the pro-Pakistan 'AL-Fatha Force' identified as Mushtaq Ahmad Lone @General Mossa' in an counter with the SOG. Even as none of the militant organisation said anything about the man or the incident, some of the some of the journalists here claimed that Mr. Lone was not a militant but "printer, publisher and editor of vernacular weekly " Wehdat-e-Milli". JK Police have recovered  from his person an identity card which described the deceased as "printer, publisher & amp; editor " of the Urdu weekly.

Shaheed Mushtaq A. Lone

Official sources told local newspapers that in reaction militants attacks on joint camp of STF and Ikhwan  between Onta Bhawan and Bilal Colony during the three proceeding nights, Special operation Group , Srinagar laid ambush yesterday evening which as maintained for several hours.Before  five militants passed by the ambush and fell into the trap. A encounter took place between, the two sides during witch, Mushtaq Ahmad Lone @General Moosa" got  killed and all of his accomplices managed to escape from the drag net. One AK -56 rifle and and a pouch   was claimed to have recovered him.

A police press release said that 'Gen Mossa' was functioning as Supreme Cammander of AL-Fatha Force' in  the absence of Tariq Aziz alias Zan-ul-Aabideen. It was further claimed that the top ranking militant had been instrumental in reactivating and re-organizing militancy in Kashmir and Udhampur after the installation of the democratic Government 'Gen. Mossa' was described as a Pakistani trained  militant which attained training in handling of sophisticated weapons and crossed back 1991.Immediately he was made  District Commander of Jehad Force  which ultimately splintered into Al-Fatha Force in 1994", said the release. It adds that 'Mossa' was responsible for various  activities including killings and attacks on Army, STF as also for organizing anti-election campaign in South Kashmir. " The deceased was also involved in killing of 21 Ikwanis, 34 Indian army jawans . He was also  described as "an very important  but 2nd in Command member of  " Shoura-e-Jehad". Yet another statement from the department of Information Department said that Police had recovered " from the pocket of the deceased militant,  Prees Card in the name of Mushtaq Ahmad Lone indicated him as printer, publisher and editor of  "Wehdat-e-Milli."

A senior Information Department official, when contacted, confirmed that according to the records Mushtaq Ahmad Lone son of Mr. Ghulam Mohidin Lone, resident of Pathan Pulwama was the bonfire printer, publisher and editor of the Urdu weekly. A district Magistrate had confirmed the declaration after necessary verification about the   antecedents of the deceased by JK Police and CID. Some journalist said that they knew the deceased as an editor for the last several years and claimed that he had never been militant.

Inspector General of Police , Kashmir Zone, Gpoal Sharma  when contacted, said that Lone was the acting chief of the militant organisation and the same had been " confirmed properly”. Neither any militant organisation  nor the press community here issued any statement about the man or the incident in which he was reported killed. 

About the author: Sheikh Gulzaar is a editor with Writer-South Asia and can be contacted  at:  writerasia@in.com, gulzar@journalist.com

Mailing address: Writer- South Asia, POB 667 Srinagar SGR  J&K 190001 (Via New Delhi-India)