J&K man who joined ‘counter-insurgency’ operations after brother was killed dies at 62

Tahir Fazal is known for mobilizing tribal communities against Pakistan-trained terrorists to recapture his hometown of Kaka Hills, which had become a terrorist stronghold.On June 26, 2002, Fazal and his other brother returned from Saudi Arabia after their brother was killed by terrorists.After receiving weapons training, Fazal joined counter-insurgency operations and avenged his brother’s death by eliminating militant Abu Kashif. Soon, he became a battle-hardened veteran.In 2019, Fazal had written to the then Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh demanding that his community be given a chance against terrorists in Shopian and Anantnag.Paying tribute to a veteran, the White Knights of the Army posted onFazal died on April 22 in Uttarakhand.Meanwhile, J&K Minister Javed Ahmed Rana expressed condolences over the death of veteran Fazal, calling him an “unsung warrior”.