Fayaz Bukhari

The worst terror attack on Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) convoy, which killed 40 jawans, has left Kashmir shocked. The fact that a Kashmiri boy, Adil Ahmad Dar, carried out the deadly suicide bombing, first time in 17 years that a local has been involved, has unnerved the people of Kashmir. They fear that this would lead to a dangerous trend in the land of Sufis.

The site of Pulwama bombing in Kashmir

Usually, suicide bombings are carried out by Islamist groups that follow the Salafi and Deobandi sects of Islam. Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) follows the Deobandi ideology, and such Islamist groups consider some of the Barelvi practices un-Islamic. Dar’s transition from peace loving Sufi to a suicide bomber signifies a dangerous trend.

Even Dar’s family and neighbours could not believe he had become a suicide bomber because he was a soft and decent young fellow who helped his family in daily chores. His father, Ghulam Hassan Dar, said, “When we heard we were shocked and pained by the killing of our son as well as the CRPF personnel. We feel the pain of the families of those who were killed in the attack,” he said.

Dar’s father said that his son was pushed into militancy. “I wanted my son to help me, but he was inclined towards militancy just like other children. He joined the militants along with his cousins Sameer Ahmad Dar and Touseef Ahmad Dar. We succeeded in getting one of them, Touseef, back and after two months he was picked up by the police and is now booked under Public Safety Act (PSA). Adil might have met the same fate had he returned home; maybe that’s why he refused to give up,” said a moist-eyed Dar.

Fahmeeda, mother of Adil, is in shock and pained to