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Falling Pieces
Hizbul suffering serious reversals in the Kashmir Valley
By Fayaz Wani
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The formidable militant group in Kashmir, Hizbul Mujahideen has been jolted by major successes achieved by security forces. The top commanders of the outfit are ‘falling’ in security net and this has affected the striking capability of the group.
From last week of March to April 3, five top commanders of the group including its chief spokesman, Junaid-ul-Islam and acting Financial and Logistics Commander, Nisar Abdullah were arrested in different operations by security forces and police.
On March 31, police dealt the first blow to the militant group by arresting one of its cop commander and IED expert, Rayees Ahmad Dar alias Rayees Kachroo alias Mashund. Arrested from downtown Srinagar, Rayees was active in militancy from a long time and was responsible for various IED blasts. Rayees had triggered off an IED on 12 May 2004 killing nine soldiers. “The arrested militant triggered off another IED on February 10 killing five BSF personnel. He also triggered off an IED in South Kashmir killing five para-military soldiers,” said IGP Kashmir S. M. Sahai.
On April 2, police arrested three more Hizbul commanders from Gund Chogal, Handwara in border district of Kupwara. Identified as Nissar Abdullah Malik alias RP, Mudasir Shabir Ganie alias Ali and Parvez Ahmad Wani alias Mubashir alias Saifullah, the trio was acting as Financial and Logistics Commander, District Commander and Battalion Commander of Hizbul Mujahideen respectively. One among the arrested militant commander Mudasir Shabir Ganie carried a reward of Rs 2,50,000 on his head.
On April 3, the chief spokesperson of the militant group, Junaid-ul-Islam fell in the net of police. Junaid, who had been acting as spokesman of the group for many years, had been dodging security forces since 1993. An Arabic scholar from the Kashmir University, Junaid had been an important figure of the group and was its publicity man in Kashmir.
On April 1, police, para-military and army personnel in a joint operation killed two top commander of Hizbul Mujahideen during a gunfight at Bijbehara in South Kashmir. Identified as Divisional Commander Aslam Khan alias Zia-ur-rehman and District Commander Javaid Ahmad Lone alias Nazar, the duo were active from many years and were being hunted by the security forces.
Besides the arrest and killing of top commanders, police and security forces have arrested at least a dozen militants of the group during various operations. Among those arrested were three militants, who were responsible for carrying out an IED blast on a fly-over at Jehangir Chowk in summer capital Srinagar in March.
The arrest and killings of its top commanders have jolted the militant group and demoralised its cadres. “The militant group has been rendered apparently headless and the striking capability of its cadres has been dented to a large extent,” said a police officer, on condition of anonymity.
The police officer said that police and other security agencies will continue to target Hizbul Mujahideen commanders to weaken it further.
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