The State Investigation Agency (SIA) Kashmir has secured an Interpol Red Corner Notice (RCN) against Hizbul Mujahideen commander Imtiyaz Ahmad Kandoo, a key accused in the 2013 terror attack in Sopore that claimed the lives of four Jammu and Kashmir Police personnel.
The move comes more than 13 years after the deadly ambush at Peer Mohalla in Sopore’s Hygam area and is being seen as a major step in tracking down terrorists who have escaped across borders to evade prosecution.
The Red Corner Notice enables law enforcement agencies across Interpol’s 196 member countries to locate and provisionally detain the accused pending extradition or legal action.
2013 Sopore Ambush Revisited
The case dates back to April 26, 2013, when a group of heavily armed terrorists attacked a police team at Peer Mohalla in Hygam, Sopore. Four Jammu and Kashmir Police personnel were killed in the ambush.
The case was initially registered at Tarzoo Police Station in Sopore and remained unresolved for years. In 2024, the investigation was transferred to the State Investigation Agency, which undertook a fresh review of the case.
According to officials, the SIA re-examined witness testimonies, gathered additional evidence and carried out a detailed reconstruction of the conspiracy behind the attack. The renewed investigation led to fresh findings and the addition of more serious charges against the accused.
In July 2024, the agency filed a comprehensive chargesheet against six accused persons linked to the attack.
Who is Imtiyaz Ahmad Kandoo?
Imtiyaz Ahmad Kandoo, a resident of Kraltang in Sopore, has been associated with the Hizbul Mujahideen terror outfit since 2010. Security agencies believe he crossed into Pakistan shortly after the 2013 attack and has since continued to operate from across the border.
Known by aliases such as Fayaz and Sajad, Kandoo is accused of playing a key operational role in terrorist activities in Jammu and Kashmir. Investigators have linked him to weapons smuggling networks, terror financing operations and the planning of attacks in the region.
In October 2022, the Government of India designated Kandoo as an Individual Terrorist under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
Officials say he is wanted not only in the Sopore ambush case but also in at least ten other terror-related cases, including targeted killings that allegedly resulted in the deaths of more than 15 people.
Progress in the Investigation
The SIA investigation has already led to action against several members of the alleged terror module involved in the 2013 attack.
According to investigation records, two accused, Tariq Ahmad Mir and Hizbul commander Qayoom Najar were killed in separate encounters with security forces over the years.
Three other accused, identified as Javid Ahmad Mattoo, Rouf Najar and Ahmadullah Malla, were arrested and are currently facing trial.
With Kandoo remaining the only absconding accused in the case, investigators intensified efforts to secure international assistance for his arrest.
Interpol Notice Expands Global Hunt
Officials view the Interpol Red Corner Notice as a major operational success for the SIA and a demonstration of India’s commitment to pursuing terror suspects regardless of how much time has passed since the crime.
The notice significantly restricts a fugitive’s ability to travel internationally, access financial systems and move freely across jurisdictions.
The development was achieved through coordination between the SIA and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which serves as India’s National Central Bureau for Interpol matters.
Security officials believe the move strengthens India’s efforts to target terrorists who use foreign safe havens to escape legal action.
Strengthening Counter-Terror Investigations
The State Investigation Agency was established to handle complex terrorism-related cases in Jammu and Kashmir and accelerate investigations into terror financing, recruitment, cross-border networks and major attacks.
Officials say the successful pursuit of the Sopore ambush case demonstrates how cold cases can be revived through modern investigative techniques, forensic analysis and inter-agency coordination.
The agency’s efforts have also highlighted a broader strategy of combining legal, diplomatic and international policing mechanisms to track fugitives involved in terrorism.
Message to Terror Networks
Security agencies believe the latest development sends a strong message that terror operatives and their handlers cannot rely on time or geography to escape accountability.
By securing an Interpol Red Corner Notice against Imtiyaz Ahmad Kandoo, India has widened the search for one of the key accused in the 2013 Sopore attack and reaffirmed its commitment to pursuing those involved in acts of terrorism, irrespective of where they are located or how long ago the crime was committed.
