New Delhi: Footage has now emerged of a symbolic funeral (Janaza-Ghaib) held for slain Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorist Tahir Habib alias Jibran at his native village Khai Gala in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK). Jibran was one of the three terrorists directly involved in the massacre of 26 civilians at the Baisaran Valley near Pahalgam on April 22.
He, along with the two others, were neutralised by security forces in the forests near Srinagar on July 28 during Operation Mahadev. The two other terrorists killed were identified as Suleiman and Afghan.
The video footage leaves no doubt of Pakistan’s hand behind the Pahalgam terror attack. Suleiman, known to have planned the strike, had also served with the Pakistan Army’s Special Forces.
The footage, posted on Telegram, shows villagers, including elders, gathering for final prayers in Jibran’s memory. He is also known to have served with the Pakistan Army before joining the LeT. Some experts believe that he and Suleiman were actually ‘lent’ by the Pakistan Army and the Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) to the LeT to plan and carry out attacks in Jammu and Kashmir.
Jibran was designated a Category ‘A’ terrorist and had been a key target for Indian security agencies for quite some time now.
In the footage, local Lashkar commander Rizwan Hanif is seen attempting to attend the funeral. The family apparently rejected the presence of the LeT operatives, but Hanif persisted, resulting in a tense exchange. The LeT operatives are also seen threatening mourners with a gun, sparking outrage among villagers.
“The residents of Khai Gala, who have long been wary of radicalisation, are now planning a public boycott to oppose terror recruitment. A Lashkar commander facing public backlash and being forced to flee is a testament to the changing dynamics in the region,” a source said.
The tensions surrounding Jibran’s funeral reflect not just local resentment against terror groups, but also the broader reach of India’s retaliatory operations like Operation Sindoor, aimed at dismantling cross-border terror networks in the aftermath of the Pahalgam massacre.
