Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Police on Wednesday said a militant commander of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen was killed in an “encounter”, less than 24 hours of his arrest in Handwara area of Kupwara district in north Kashmir.
“On 06-07-2021, Handwara Police along with SSB during routine Naka checking regarding enforcement of Covid appropriate behaviour at Watyen Handwara had stopped number of vehicles which were being checked,” a police spokesman said in a statement.
“During checking, one pedestrian was behaving in a very suspicious manner, who was tactfully apprehended by the joint Naka party. During his personal search one grenade was recovered from his possession,” he said, adding, “Accordingly, he was immediately shifted to nearest police post for questioning. During questioning, he identified himself as Mehraj-ud-din Halwai alias Ubaid Son of Abdul Khaliq of Khushal Mattoo Sopore, an active (militant) commander of HM.”
The spokesman further said: “During further questioning, on his disclosure multiple CASOs were launched by Handwara Police, Army, CRPF and SSB in which at village area Pazipora Renan Kralgund Handwara, when CASO was started, the (militant) tried to pin point the location where he has kept his arms and ammunition. Upon reaching at the disclosed hideout location, the said (militant) picked up his hidden AK-47 rifle and started firing indiscriminately upon the joint search party which led to an encounter. In the ensuing firefight the said (militant) got killed.”
The spokesman further said “incriminating material, arms & ammunitions including one Ak-47, 04 Magazines, Power bank, blanket, medicines, etc were recovered from the hideout (encounter site).”
“As per police records, the said (militant) was a categorized A++ (militant) and was group commander of HM. He was active since 2012 and was involved in several killings in north Kashmir.”
The spokesman said that slain was involved in killing of SPO Mudasir Ahmad Dar of Untoo Hamam Sopore on 28-07-2013, attack on Sarpanch Khazir Mohd Parray of Krankshivan on 26-07-2013, killing of Sarpanch Habib Ullah Mir of Goripora Bomai, attack on Panch Zoona Begum of Hardshiva Sopore, attack on police party at Hygam Sopore along with his associates on 26-04-2013, in which 04 policemen got killed besides, decamping with three weapons of the killed policemen, killing of Hurriyat activists Sheikh Altaf-ur-Rehman of Iqbal Nagar Sopore and Khursheed Ahamd Bhat of Bomai Sopore, killing of ex-militant mehraj-ud-Din Dar of Badambagh Sopore and Aijaz Ahmad Reshi of Mundji Sopore.
“Besides, he was involved in attacks on various establishments including attack on Hotel Heemal Srinagar.”
The slain militant was well acquainted with modern means of communication by which he would communicate with other militants and plan and execute different militant activities on ground, the spokesman said. “He was instrumental in motivating and recruitment of youth into (militant) ranks besides was raising funds for promotion of (militant) activities,” the spokesman said. (GNS)
