Former militant chief, who escaped from PoK jail during quake, surrenders

After he moved to Muzaffarabad, Malik is believed to have shifted loyalties, and jailed on the charge of being an Indian spy two years back. Sources said he had little hope of being released.

But the quake, that devastated both sides of LoC and claimed thousands of lives, proved a boon for Malik. The jail complex crumbled and he was among the few to have survived. Malik escaped and fled Muzaffarnagar.

With the quake leaving in its wake everything in a shambles, Malik’s escape went unnoticed. ‘‘Malik reached Islamabad and managed to board a plane to Nepal. Then he crossed over to India, and finally arrived in Srinagar,’’ police sources said.