NEWS

WIRES

OTHER

Pakistani Hizbul Militant Active From 10 Years Killed in Gunfight

By Fayaz Wani

A Pakistani militant of one of the biggest militant groups in Kashmir, Hizbul Mujahideen, who had been active for the past decade, was killed in a gunfight with Indian soldiers in Doda district of Jammu province.

Giving detail of the encounter, a top police officer in Doda, said that the police counter insurgency unit, Special Operations Group (SOG) personnel and army men, during a joint combing operation laid siege around Nagana Nallah area in Doda district after receiving specific information about the presence of Hizbul militants in the area.

He said that while security personnel were laying siege around the area, they came under a volume of fire from militants hiding in the besieged area. The fire was returned by the troops and the exchange of fire between militants and soldiers lasted for nearly three hours, during which a top commander of Hizbul Mujahideen was killed.

He identified the slain militant commander as Abid Hussain Basra alias Zargam alias Hayat alias K2. Abid, a Pakistani national had been actively involved in militancy for the past decade and was one of the most wanted commanders, searched for by Indian army and police officers in Doda district.

The police officer said that Abid was involved in several attacks on Indian army and police officers in Doda district. "His killing is a major setback to the militant group, Hizbul Mujahideen", the police officer claimed.

Fayaz Wani reports on life in Srinagar, Kashmir.