Kashmir File Impact: Bitta Karate - Case Re-opens After 31 Years
Bitta Karate is a terrorist who has accepted the killing of over 20 Kashmiri Pandits in 1990’s, the case on him has now been reopened again after 31 years s the impact of the film “Kashmir Files”
The Kashmir Files movie has done really well and has won hearts by showcasing the sad and painful reality of Kashmiri Pandits. There is a character in the film named Bitta Karate. He was the terrorist who killed many Kashmiri Pandits. His real name is Farooq Ahmad Dar. Bitta Karate was an active terrorist in 90s. In an interview, he had openly admitted to the killing of many Kashmiri Pandits during the 1990s. Bitta, along with two of his associates, was arrested by the Border Security Force (BSF) on 22 June 1990. He was arrested and detained under the Public Safety Act and had 19 terrorism related cases against him. He remained under arrest for 16 years in various prisons across India in these 16 years. On 23 October 2006, a court enforcing Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA court) in Jammu granted bail to Bitta and he was handed over to his family. He was initially granted bail for four months. His release was condemned by several Kashmiri Pandit organizations. Bitta got a warm reception from his supporters in Kashmir. Large number of supporters assembled at his house where flower petals and confetti were showered on him.
Upon release from detention, Bitta joined the Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (R) (a terrorist organisation. Aim to separate J&K from India) where he worked his way up to become its chairman. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested him again in 2019 on charges of funding terrorist activities. NIA has charged Bitta of "conspiring to wage war against the government" and creating trouble in the Kashmir Valley. However, after the release of the Film “Kashmir Files” several victims came forward and shared their stories. And now 31 Years later, the family of Satish Tickoo, one of the victims killed by Bitta, filed a plea in the Srinagar Sessions Court for status reports of all the FIRs registered against Bitta Karate.
The hearing in the case began after nearly 31 years. The trial has raised hopes for the family as the court sought to know from the government on the progress of the case in the past 31 years. The next hearing is likely to be held on 16th April. Also, Jammu Kashmir Reconciliation Front President, Dr Sandeep Mawa burnt down a statue of Bitta. Mawa also has sent a final demand to the Government to establish a fact-finding committee to find out the exact scenes of killings by terrorists in Kashmir Valley. He said that if the government fails to do so by 19th April, he will sit on hunger strike for ten days and after that he will set himself on fire.
A Kashmiri Pandit organisation had also filed a plea in the Supreme Court seeking an investigation either by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) or National Investigation Agency (NIA) into the mass murders and genocide of Kashmiri Pandits during 1989-90. The reopening of the case of Bitta Karate and several other terrorists after 31 years of this painful incident clearly shows the impact of Kashmir Files.
