x-militant commander found dead in Srinagar mosque

A prominent cleric and former militant commander was found murdered in a mosque in Srinagar.

He has been identified as 80-year-old Abdul Ghani Dar alias Abdullah Ghazali who was a prominent Ahle Hadees cleric and was also one of the founding members of militant outfit Tehreek-ul-Mujahideen.

Police said he was hit with a blunt object on the head inside the mosque in Maisuma area and died instantly. J&K Police is scanning footage of CCTVs installed in and outside the mosque.

"A case has been registered and investigations have started," SSP, Srinagar, Haseeb Mughal said, adding "We are collecting all the evidences."

"Photography and video recording of the crime spot was carried out besides team members from FSL were called on spot for the examination of the crime scene. Following the scientific procedures of investigation, circumstantial evidences and samples were lifted from the scene for investigation," police said.

Dar was a co-accused in the assassination of Maulana Showkat, head of Jamiat Ahle Hadees, who was killed in a blast in 2011. He had got bail in the case in 2015.-IANS