Mr. Majid was one of those involved in last December’s kidnapping of the daughter of India’s top law enforcement officer, Home Affairs Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed, and securing the release of five top militants from police custody in exchange for the woman,
The incident is widely seen as the beginning of the continuing anti-India surge that has spread in the Vale of Kashmir, which is Muslim dominated.
The Government had announced a $2,000 award for his capture. Mr. Majid was considered as a top ideologue and strategist for the liberation front, which is the best armed and most organized of more than two dozen pro-independence groups in Kashmir.
Residents said in telephone interviews that Srinagar was tense after Mr. Majid’s Killing. A local journalist said about 50,000 people gathered near the police headquarters demanding they be allowed to join the funeral procession. The permission was given, and a police official said “people are coming out everywhere.” Tight security by troops was enforced at the funeral site.
Article extracted from this publication >> April 13, 1990
