This page provides a comprehensive overview of Adil Ahmad Dar, focusing on his life, involvement in militancy, and the significant events leading up to the 2019 Pulwama attack.

Wiki/Biography

Adil Ahmad Dar was born in 1997 in the Pulwama district of Jammu & Kashmir, India. He reached the age of 22 at the time of his death. His family resided in Gundibagh, Pulwama. His father, Ghulam Hassan Dar, ran a small shop in the nearby Kakapora area. Adil’s early life and education details remain somewhat scarce, but reports indicate he attended school up to the 11th grade before his life took a drastic turn.

Militancy

Adil Dar joined the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) militant group in 2018, while still a relatively young man. Security forces had reportedly been monitoring him since his affiliation with the terrorist organization became known. His family claims he was injured during protests following the 2016 killing of Burhan Wani, a Hizbul Mujahideen commander. Police sources classified him as a Category C militant, suggesting a moderate level of involvement within the group.

In addition to his militant activities, he also worked at a sawmill, highlighting a possible duality in his life before his complete dedication to militancy.

Investigations revealed that Dar had spent a considerable amount of time, approximately a year, preparing for the Pulwama attack. On February 14, 2019, at 2:03 PM, he carried out the attack, driving a Mahindra Scorpio packed with over 350 kg of explosives into a CRPF convoy. The resulting devastation led to the deaths of over 40 personnel and many more injuries. The Jaish-e-Mohammed immediately claimed responsibility for the attack.

Accounts suggest that Dar’s motivations were deeply rooted in religious extremism. He reportedly stated, “I will be enjoying in heaven, I am proud… I am the real propagator of Islam and my name will be written in golden letters.” His father, however, offered a different perspective, claiming Adil’s radicalization was a consequence of alleged mistreatment at the hands of security forces.

Facts

Several facts about Adil Dar’s life and background emerged after the Pulwama attack.

• His father stated that Adil had aspirations of becoming a religious leader or priest prior to his involvement in militancy.
• He left his formal education to join Jaish-e-Mohammed, where he became heavily radicalized.
• A cousin of Dar was also a militant and perished in an encounter with security forces.
• He was known by several aliases, including “Adil Ahmad Gaadi Takranewala” and “Waqas Commando of Gundibagh.”

Timeline of Key Events

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