{{Short description|Kashmiri militant}} {{Use Indian English|date=August 2024}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2024}} {{Infobox person | name = Sheikh Sajjad Gul | image = | caption = | birth_date = {{Birth year and age|1974}} | birth_place = Nawa Bazar, Srinagar India | occupation = <!-- Occupation or profession --> | organization = The Resistance Front | known_for = Founding The Resistance Front | movement = Insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir }}
'''Sheikh Sajjad Gul''' (born 1974), is a Kashmiri militant and the founder of The Resistance Front, a designated terrorist group which has been active in India's Jammu and Kashmir since 2019.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-04-19 |title=Sajjad Gul, who took part in conspiracy to kill journalist Shujaat Bukhari, designated as militant.|url=https://www.kashmirnewszone.com/sajjad-gul-who-took-part-in-conspiracy-to-kill-journalist-shujaat-bukhari-designated-as-militant/ |access-date=2024-01-26 |website=Kashmir News Zone |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-01-06 |title=LeT proxy TRF banned, chief tagged 'terrorist' |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/let-proxy-trf-banned-chief-tagged-terrorist/articleshow/96776322.cms?from=mdr |access-date=2024-01-26 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref>
== Early life == Sheikh Sajjad Gul, born in 1974 in the Shah Mohalla area of Nawa Bazar in the old city of Srinagar, was educated at the National School in Srinagar’s Karan Nagar. In 1996, Gul successfully completed his BSc degree from Sri Pratap College located in Lal Chowk, Srinagar. Following this, he pursued higher education and earned an MBA from the Asia Pacific Institute of Management in Bengaluru, graduating in 1999.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-06-29 |title='Mastermind' of Shujaat Bukhari's assassination planned blasts in Delhi in 2002, was arrested by police |url=https://www.timesnownews.com/india/article/shujaat-bukhari-assassination-journalist-greater-kashmir-editor-murder-srinagar/247475 |access-date=2024-01-26 |website=www.timesnownews.com |language=en}}</ref>
During this time, he established connections with individuals associated with groups such as Tehreek-ul-Mujahideen and Lashkar-e-Taiba.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Ashiq |first=Peerzada |date=2018-07-06 |title=Ground Zero: Who killed Shujaat Bukhari? |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/who-killed-shujaat-bukhari/article61516749.ece |access-date=2024-01-26 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>
== Early militancy career == In 2002, Gul faced arrest in New Delhi on charges related to a hawala racket. While in Tihar jail, he reportedly established connections with prominent LeT militants also incarcerated there. Later, in 2005, Gul was transferred to Srinagar Central Jail and subsequently released in 2006.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mastermind of Kashmir editor's murder did MBA from Bengaluru |url=https://inshorts.com/en/news/mastermind-of-kashmir-editors-murder-did-mba-from-bengaluru-1530256401106 |access-date=2024-01-26 |website=Inshorts - Stay Informed |language=en}}</ref>
Throughout 2016, he remained under constant police scrutiny following intelligence intercepts indicating his involvement in receiving a pistol from across the Line of Control (LoC) for an undisclosed mission. Then, in March 2017, Gul managed to obtain a passport using a fake address in Jammu, secured a visa for Pakistan, and crossed the Wagah border. His acquisition of the passport was deemed fraudulent.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-06-29 |title='Mastermind' of Shujaat Bukhari's assassination planned blasts in Delhi in 2002, was arrested by police |url=https://www.timesnownews.com/india/article/shujaat-bukhari-assassination-journalist-greater-kashmir-editor-murder-srinagar/247475 |access-date=2024-01-26 |website=www.timesnownews.com |language=en}}</ref>
== The Resistance Front == In 2019, following the abrogation of Article 370, Sheikh Sajjad Gul, along with Muhammad Abbas Sheikh,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Who was Abbas Sheikh, TRF chief who revived militancy in Srinagar? - The Week |url=https://www.theweek.in/news/india/2021/08/26/who-was-abbas-sheikh-trf-chief-who-revived-militancy-in-srinagar.html |access-date=2024-01-26 |website=www.theweek.in}}</ref> co-founded The Resistance Front, a separatist militant organization actively engaged in advocating for the independence of Jammu and Kashmir from India. Presently, Sheikh Sajjad Gul serves as the supreme leader of The Resistance Front.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-06-23 |title=TRF conspiracy case: NIA raids several locations in Kashmir, arrests terrorist |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/srinagar/trf-conspiracy-case-nia-raids-several-locations-in-kashmir-arrests-terrorist/articleshow/92396482.cms |access-date=2024-01-26 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Singh |first=Vijaita |date=2023-01-05 |title=Centre declares The Resistance Front a terrorist organisation |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/centre-declares-the-resistance-front-a-terrorist-organisation/article66343702.ece |access-date=2024-01-26 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>
== Designation == On 5 January 2023, the Indian central government banned The Resistance Front (TRF) and designated Sheikh Sajjad Gul as a terrorist. Additionally, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has placed a reward of 1 million INR on Gul's head.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-01-06 |title=LeT proxy TRF banned, chief tagged 'terrorist' |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/let-proxy-trf-banned-chief-tagged-terrorist/articleshow/96776322.cms?from=mdr |access-date=2024-01-26 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Why The Resistance Front was under terror watch in Kashmir |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india-today-insight/story/why-the-resistance-front-was-under-terror-watch-in-kashmir-2318904-2023-01-08 |access-date=2024-01-26 |website=India Today |date=8 January 2023 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Joy, DHNS |first=Shemin |title=Centre bans LeT's proxy outfit 'The Resistance Front' |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/india/centre-bans-lets-proxy-outfit-the-resistance-front-1178338.html |access-date=2024-01-26 |website=Deccan Herald |language=en}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gul, Sheikh Sajjad}} Category:Living people Category:1974 births Category:Kashmiri militants Category:People from Srinagar Category:Indian Islamists Category:Members of jihadist groups Category:Leaders of jihadist groups Category:Islamist insurgents Category:People of the Kashmir conflict Category:Inmates of Tihar Jail Category:Lashkar-e-Taiba members