| ID | 179141 |
| Title Proper | Indian Intelligence and the Mystery of Muhammad’s Hair |
| Language | ENG |
| Author | Shaffer, Ryan |
| Summary / Abstract (Note) | Several times a year, crowds gather at the Hazratbal Shrine near Srinagar to see the imam display a thermometer-like container that purportedly holds Prophet Muhammad’s hair.1 Located close to the summer capital in Jammu and Kashmir, the shrine–mosque complex is a symbol of prestige and famous throughout India. More than that, it has also repeatedly been the site of violent disturbances connected to militants seeking independence from India.2 One of the most tantalizing events surrounding the shrine is a little investigated, but widely retold story about the hair being stolen and returned during the early 1960s. The narrative about the theft from India’s top intelligence officer has been repeated but has not been previously examined from an intelligence studies lens. This article calls for a rethinking of the story and demonstrates how a careful reading of an intelligence officer’s memoir can potentially reveal new facts in light of fictional material. |
| `In' analytical Note | International Journal of Intelligence and Counter Intelligence Vol. 34, No.1; Spring 2021: p.97-105 |
| Journal Source | International Journal of Intelligence and Counter Intelligence Vol: 34 No 1 |
| Key Words | Indian Intelligence ; Mystery of Muhammad’s Hair |