Big Win Against Terror: SIA Kashmir Secures Interpol Red Notice For Hizbul Man Wanted In 2013 Sopore Attack | Exclusive Details

Last Updated:July 11, 2026, 17:11 IST

A resident of Kraltang in Sopore, Imtiyaz Ahmad Kandoo has maintained a highly active operational footprint as a regional commander for Hizbul Mujahideen since 2010

In a major breakthrough for India’s sustained counter-terrorism infrastructure, the State Investigation Agency (SIA) Kashmir has successfully secured an Interpol Red Corner Notice against designated Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Imtiyaz Ahmad Kandoo. The international warrant marks a significant milestone in the long-pending investigation of the lethal 2013 Tarzoo terrorist ambush in Hygam, effectively converting a localised search operations grid into a global manhunt across 196 member nations.

Top intelligence sources state that targeting a deep-rooted operational asset like Kandoo strikes a severe blow to the leadership tier and remaining field morale of the proscribed Hizbul Mujahideen network. The issuance of the global red alert heavily disrupts the group’s residual logistics networks, making it exceptionally difficult for Kandoo to coordinate financial distribution, execute cross-border operations, access international banking services, or find safe passage in foreign territories. Because the original Peer Mohalla attack dates back over a decade, the legal breakthrough underscores the institutional resolve of Indian investigative agencies, serving notice to active handlers that time does not dilute criminal accountability.

The Peer Mohalla Ambush and the Evasion Ledger

The high-profile case stems from a brutal terrorist ambush executed on April 26, 2013, at Peer Mohalla in Hygam, Sopore. A police detachment was targeted by an insurgent squad armed with automatic weapons, resulting in the martyrdom of four Jammu and Kashmir Police personnel in what remains one of the most severe tactical strikes against regional security forces during that operational phase. The investigation was initially registered at Police Station Tarzoo in Sopore before being officially transferred to the specialised SIA Kashmir unit for a comprehensive, fast-tracked forensic and conspiracy review.

Following an exhaustive investigation that included meticulous analysis of circumstantial evidence, detailed witness examinations, and a thorough digital reconstruction of the operational conspiracy, the SIA successfully expanded the charges based on fresh findings. The agency subsequently filed a comprehensive chargesheet before the competent trial court against six high-value accused persons.

During the course of subsequent counter-terror operations, two key accused individuals, Tariq Ahmad Mir and the notorious commander Qayoom Najar, were eliminated in direct combat encounters with security forces. Three other co-conspirators, Javid Ahmad Mattoo, Rouf Najar, and Ahmadullah Malla, were successfully apprehended and are currently facing active trial. The sixth and primary architect of the ambush, Imtiyaz Ahmad Kandoo, successfully evaded local dragnets and is conclusively believed to have exfiltrated across the Line of Control into Pakistan.

Neutralising a Multi-Case Terror Ecosystem

A resident of Kraltang in Sopore, Kandoo has maintained a highly active operational footprint as a regional commander for Hizbul Mujahideen since 2010. Owing to his sustained involvement in orchestrating urban warfare, the Government of India officially designated him as an Individual Terrorist under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act in October 2022.

The granular investigation conducted by the SIA conclusively established Kandoo’s direct command role in the Hygam strike while uncovering his leadership in a much wider cross-border network. Beyond the 2013 ambush, Kandoo is actively wanted in at least ten separate terror-related cases, including targeted civilian assassinations resulting in more than 15 deaths, weapons smuggling syndicates, and highly organised narco-terror financing pipelines.

The successful acquisition of the Interpol warrant highlights the growing institutional strength and legal precision of the SIA, which was created specifically to fast-track complex terror probes in Jammu and Kashmir. By seamlessly coordinating with federal agencies like the Central Bureau of Investigation and global policing frameworks, the agency has demonstrated its capacity to pursue high-value fugitives across international borders, ensuring that cross-border perpetrators are systematically held to account.

About the Author

Manoj Gupta

Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18

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