Sopore: Hizbul terrorist’s brother waves tricolour in Sopore | India News

SRINAGAR: Rayees Mattoo, a shopkeeper from Sopore in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district and the brother of Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Javid Mattoo alias Saqib, proudly waved the Indian flag from his home window on the eve of Independence Day. In a heartfelt viral video, Rayees expressed his patriotism, with a plea to his brother to surrender and join the mainstream.

Claiming the act was driven solely by his personal feelings, Rayees reiterated that there was no external pressure influencing his decision to wave the tricolour. “This is the first time in decades that my shop is open on August 14 due to the usual shutdown. I want to convey to my brother Javid to reconsider his path and surrender if he is alive, as there is nothing to gain from such activities,” he was heard saying in the video.
Reciting Iqbal’s poetry, Rayees expressed his love for the nation: “Sare jahan se achcha, Hindustan hamara, hum bulbulein hain iski, ye gulsitan hamara.”

Rayees, who has been out of touch with his sibling since Javid’s involvement in militancy in 2009, maintained that the latter’s decision to become a terrorist was not influenced by Pakistan. While urging his brother to surrender, he emphasised that innocent people were no longer unnecessarily harassed by the police or other agencies.
Javid, declared a most-wanted terrorist in 2019, remains elusive to his family in Sopore. Security forces are working to track down Javid, who is believed to have been involved in various acts of terrorism.