Srinagar, Jul 7 ( KINS ) A top Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) commander, who was apprehended on Tuesday during a naka checking, was killed in an encounter with security forces in Handwara in north Kashmir district of Kupwara on Wednesday, a police spokesperson said.
Meanwhile, Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kashmir range, Vijay Kumar, has termed the killing of Mehraj-uddin alias Ubaid – who is one of the oldest and top HM commanders – as a big success.
The spokesperson said that police along with Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) was conducting a routine naka at Watyen Handwara on Tuesday to enforce COVID appropriate behaviour. “During checking, one pedestrian was behaving in a very suspicious manner, who was tactfully apprehended by the joint naka party,” he said.
He said during his search one grenade was recovered from his possession, adding the accused was immediately taken into custody. “The accused was identified as Mehraj-ud-din Halwai alias Ubaid, a resident of Khushal Mattoo in Sopore, an active HM commander,” he said.
He said during further questioning, on his disclosure multiple Cordon and Search Operations (CASOs) were launched by Special Operations Group (SOG) of J&K police, Army, CRPF and SSB in Handwara. “The militant gave away the location of a hideout where he had kept his arms and ammunition at Pazipora Renan in Kralgund Handwara,” he said.
Upon reaching at the disclosed hideout location, he said the 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 encounter the militant was killed,” he said.
He said incriminating material, arms and ammunitions, including one Ak-47, four Magazines, Power bank, blanket, medicines, etc were recovered from the hideout.
He said as per police records, the slain was a categorized A++ militant and was group commander of proscribed outfit HM. “Ubaid was active since 2012 and was involved in several killings in north Kashmir. He had a long history of attacks on Police, security forces and civilian atrocities,” he said.
He said the slain militant was involved in killing of Special Police Officer (SPO) Mudasir Ahmad Dar of Untoo Hamam Sopore on July 28, 2013; attack on Sarpanch Khazir Mohammad Parray of Krankshivan on July 26, 2013; killing of Sarpanch Habib Ullah Mir of Goripora Bomai.
The spokesperson said that the slain was also involved in the attack on Panch Zoona Begum of Hardshiva Sopore, attack on police party at Hygam Sopore along with his associates on April 26, 2013 in which four policemen were killed besides, decamped with three weapons of the killed policemen.
“Ubaid was also involved in killing of Hurriyat activists Sheikh Altaf-ur-Rehman of Iqbal Nagar Sopore and Khursheed Ahamd Bhat of Bomai Sopore, killing of former militants Mehraj-ud-Din Dar of Badambagh Sopore and Aijaz Ahmad Reshi of Mundji Sopore,” he said.
Besides, he said the slain militant was involved in attacks on various establishments including attack on Hotel Heemal Srinagar. “The killed militant was well acquainted with modern means of communication by which he would communicate with other militants, plan and execute different activities on ground. He was instrumental in motivating and recruitment of youth into militant ranks besides was raising funds for promotion of militant activities,” he said.
He said contemporary of HM’s notorious militant commander Burhan Wani, who was killed in an encounter with security forces in 2016. “While Burhan was engaged in series of civilian and security force killings in south Kashmir, Ubaid was involved in killing of civilians/SFs in north Kashmir,” he said.
“In this connection police have registered a case under relevant sections of law and investigation has been initiated,” he added. (Source UNI)
……………….
