JAMMU: A tribal nomad from Murrah Hill Kaka, who joined anti-insurgency operations in the then terrorism-infested Poonch district in J&K after quitting a job in Saudi Arabia to avenge his brother’s killing and earned respect in his area as “Hero of Hill Kaka”, has died of a heart attack at the age of 62.Tahir Fazal was known in his area for mobilising the tribal community against Pakistan-trained terrorists to reclaim his native Hill Kaka, which had become a stronghold of terrorists.Fazal, along with his other brother, returned from Saudi Arabia on June 26, 2002, after their brother was killed by terrorists.After getting arms training, Fazal joined the anti-insurgency operations and avenged his brother’s death by eliminating militant Abu Kasiv. Soon, he would become a veteran of many “kills”.In 2019, Fazal had written to the then Union home minister Rajnath Singh, asking his community a chance to deal with terrorists in Shopian and Anantnag.Paying tribute to a veteran, the Army’s White Knight Corps posted on X, “A Brave Heart laid to Rest — With deep sorrow and immense gratitude, #IndianArmy bid a solemn farewell to Tahis Fazal, a valiant son of the soil who stood shoulder to shoulder with his own troops during Op Sarpvinash in 2003.”Fazal passed away on April 22 in Uttarakhand.Meanwhile, J&K minister Javed Ahmed Rana has condoled veteran Fazal’s death, describing him as an “unsung warrior”.
