 Javaid Naikoo
Early Times Report
Srinagar, Apr 7: Two wanted militants of Hizbul Mujahideen outfit were killed today by security forces in Shopian district.
Carrying a bounty of Rs 12 lakh each on their heads, Waseem Ahmad Malla alias Rizwan of Pehlipora village of Shopian who was active since 2012 and Naseer Ahmad Pandit of Pulwama were killed in a brief encounter with a joint team of police, CRPF and Army at Vehil area of Shopian. Police sources said that Waseem was behind the killing of three policemen at Amshipora village of Shopian on April 6 last year.
They said that Malla was responsible for recruiting many young faces of Pulwama and Shopian into militant ranks and was also in charge for re-birth of local militancy in South Kashmir.
Naseer Pandit of Karimabad village of Pulwama had decamped with two AK rifles on March 27 last year from the residence of then PDP Minister for Roads and Buildings, Muhammad Altaf Bukhari and joined Hizb.
Police had set a bounty of Rs 12 lakh on the heads of each of these militants.
Two AK-47 rifles, 183 rounds, 06 magazines, 02 grenades, 02 LTPE, 02 electric detonator, 01 wire cutter, 01 HM letter pad, 01 scissor and cash Rs6,500 were recovered from the encounter site.
General Officer Commanding of Army's Victor Force, Major General Ashok Narola told reporters that "killing of Waseem Mall and Naseer Pandit caused a serious blow in the top leadership of Hizbul Mujahideen militant group."
Police sources said that these two militants were among a group of 11 young local militants whose photographs and videos were widely circulated on the social networking sites last year.
They said that out of total 11 in the photos and videos, two militants were killed last year and two today and efforts are on to kill the rest militants.
However, after funeral prayers of both the militants were completed in their respective areas reports of stone pelting started surfacing from parts of Pulwama and Shopian areas. |
