JK: Govt I-card recovered from Pakistani militant

Top Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) commander Parbhat Shikari alias Tipu was working as a government school teacher in Poonch district as per an identity card recovered from him, police said.

Tipu, a Pakistani national, was carrying an identity card of a government middle school issued by the State Education department in Poonch district.

"Slain Pakistani commander was operating in Poonch district as a government teacher. We have recovered an I-card of Jammu and Kashmir State Education Department," Senior Superintendent of Police, Poonch, Manmohan Singh told PTI.

"This is a very serious matter and we are very concerned about the issuance of such a card to a Pakistani militant. We are investigating into it," the SSP said.

Tipu was gunned down by Army and police in Mendhar belt of Poonch district on Wednesday.

The militant was operating in Pir Panjal range for past more than five years and carried an education department's identity card on the name of Parvez Ahmed, son of Mohammad Arif resident of Tope in Mendhar. The I-Card had on it the stamp and signatures of zonal education officer (ZEO), Mankot, Mendhar.

"An inquiry has been ordered into the recovery of identity card from the militant. The SHO, Mendhar, has been asked to verify authenticity of the identity card and if it was found genuine action would be initiated against those responsible for issuing a government card to most wanted militant of Jammu region," Singh said.

He said Pakistani militants are reported to have escaped police net several times displaying an identity card of a government teacher.