Active since 1990s, Hizbul commander still on the run; agencies step up manhunt

Intelligence agencies and security forces have intensified efforts to trace Mohammad Amin alias Jahangir Saroori, the longest-surviving terrorist in the Chenab region. A resident of Kishtwar, Saroori has been active since the 1990s and remains one of the most elusive figures in the region’s militancy landscape.

Due to his “old-school” methods, Saroori avoids mobile phones and electronic communication, making it difficult for agencies to track him. Despite the lack of specific intelligence, security agencies suspect he may be hiding in the higher reaches of Kishtwar, Doda, or nearby areas.

In 2023, Kishtwar police filed a chargesheet against Saroori under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) in a case presented before a National Investigation Agency (NIA) fast-track court in Doda. That same year, security forces discovered one of his hideouts in the higher reaches of Kishtwar, recovering blankets and food supplies.

Saroori, a top commander of the Hizbul Mujahideen (HM), is believed to have played a key role in reviving terrorism in the Doda and Kishtwar districts in recent years. He is suspected to be the main conspirator behind the assassination of BJP leader Anil Parihar and his brother Ajit Parihar in 2018, as well as the killing of RSS functionary Chandrakant Sharma and his bodyguard in 2019.

According to intelligence sources, Saroori has re-established a network of Over Ground Workers (OGWs) in the Chenab region with funding from Pakistan. These OGWs reportedly support Pakistani terrorists infiltrating the Indian territory by providing them with food and logistical assistance in the forests of Doda and Kishtwar.

On July 20, a gunfight broke out between security forces and a group of terrorists in the Hadal Gal forest area of Kishtwar. Another encounter took place on July 2 in the Kanzal Mandu area of Chatroo. Intelligence inputs suggest that the terrorists involved in these incidents may have been supported by Saroori’s network.

Following these encounters, agencies believe Saroori may be planning to intensify operations against security forces. Sources said while Saroori himself doesn’t participate directly in attacks, he is likely instrumental in choosing targets for the Pakistani terrorists.

Doesn’t carry cellphone to avoid tracking

  • Mohammad Amin alias Jahangir Saroori, active since the 1990s, is the longest-surviving terrorist in the Chenab region and remains untraceable
  • Saroori avoids electronic devices, making tracking difficult; intelligence agencies suspect he is hiding in the higher reaches of Kishtwar or Doda districts
  • He has been chargesheeted under UAPA and is linked to several high-profile killings, including BJP and RSS leaders in 2018 and 2019
  • Saroori, a Hizbul Mujahideen commander, is believed to have revived terrorism in Kishtwar and Doda by reactivating local terror support networks

J & K