Jammu and Kashmir police on Tuesday claimed to have arrested the militant who killed Mirwaiz Mohammad Farooq, father of moderate Hurriyat chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, 33 years after his death.

Special director-general of police (CID) R.R. Swain addressed a news conference in Srinagar to claim the breakthrough. Swain said they had arrested two Hizb militants who were in hiding for 33 years and one of whom had pulled the trigger to kill Mohammad Farooq, the then chief cleric of the Valley and a separatist.

He said five militants were involved in the killing. Two among them — Abdullah Bangroo and Rehman Shigan — were later killed in encounters. Ayub Dar was convicted for life and is currently in Srinagar central jail. Two other accused, Javaid Bhat and Zahoor Bhat, have now been arrested.

The police said Zahoor had pulled the trigger.

The killing of the elder Mirwaiz on May 21, 1990, had triggered massive anti-government protests, with locals blaming the security forces for his death.

Security forces had killed dozens at his funeral that day, in what is called the Hawal massacre, cementing public opinion in the Valley that the government was involved in the cleric’s death.

The killings had prompted New Delhi to recall governor Jagmohan, whose four-month tenure witnessed a host of massacres in Kashmir and led to the massive anti-India uprising.

The government had all along blamed militants for killing Mohammad Farooq. Umar Farooq has been under house arrest since August 2019.