He’s back in the news with a Padma Shri — an award, he says, that honours him for “my work to help eliminate and arrest 5000 militants and separatists.” Magam police station records, however, show a more chequered record:
• Police call Mir a “mukhbir (security force informer)” and a man with “below average reputation in the area.”
• In 2001, an FIR was filed against him and DIG BSF A K Mullick in an attempt to murder case. Police say they are waiting for the Home Department’s approval to file a chargesheet.
• He is accused of illegally occupying land in Magam while he ran a private militia and set up his band-saw mill. The case is pending.
• His name is linked to cases of alleged timber smuggling as well.
Mir’s first brush with counter-insurgency was in 1989 when he tipped off security forces about an improvised explosive device planted by militants. “I gave information to the local CRPF bunker about it,” he told The Indian Express today.
Denying he ever was a militant, Mir said: “I am a simple farmer and I decided to work for the forces at a time when nobody dared to go against militants. I did everything to expose militants and their sympathizers. I have personally been involved in hundreds of operations. I have helped kill and arrest more than 5000.”
Mir, who could study only up to primary school, has lived the last 20 years under security cover. He claimed George Fernandes invited him for a meeting with top security officials and political leaders at Bakshi Stadium. “He asked for my help to fight militants. Dr Farooq (Abdullah) was there too,” Mir said. “He said the government will help me. I was ready.”
He says militants started targeting him and his family. “I had many a narrow escape. My family was under protection...But I couldn’t save my brother and his family who lived in a village in Pattan.” On March 28, 1991, he said, militants killed his brother and nephew. “For three days, nobody dared to claim their bodies. There was a lot of fear,” he said. “But then I taught them a lesson. I convinced many militants, even forced many of them to surrender.”
Mir soon set up a private militia of surrendered militants. In fact, two of the most notorious militants-turned counter insurgents in Kashmir, Ghulam Ahmed Yatoo alias Amma Kana of Sultanpora, and Qasim Khar were part of his militia.
Police officials said this group of counter-insurgents graduated to extortion and intimidation, too. According to police records, Mir came from a poor family of farmers which had no record of any “subversive” activity and he now owns “five concrete houses, seven shops, one vehicle and a band saw mill.” As many as 80 paramilitary personnel guard his house and mill.
Mir’s influence has faded along with the dip in militancy. “Those days, I used to be one of the most important persons in official meetings,” he recalled. “Governor Saxena would treat me like a close friend”.
Mir has three sons and three daughters. “My eldest son was attacked by militants five years ago and he had a miraculous escape,” he said. “I have no option but to live all my life under security now. I have grandchildren and even going out of the house to play or for school is not easy for them”.
Police, however, doubt the extent of Mir’s role in counter-insurgency. “Police are the terrorists here...They were always against me,” Mir said. “I have done a lot of work and even they know it”. Mir said he has letters of appreciation from several prominent individuals, including Farooq Abdullah, Agriculture Minister Ghulam Hassan Mir and even Wajahat Habibullah who’s headed to the state as its Chief Information Commissioner.
“This award has been given by New Delhi. They know my worth,” Mir said. “I was first called when Shivraj Patil was there. They knew that I was not a soldier, nor was I a policeman. I had no uniform but I worked more effectively than a senior soldier.”
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