Hizb top commander killed in south Kashmir

Srinagar, July 10 (UNI) A Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) top commander, responsible for Saturday's grenade attack at Kulgam, was killed in a joint operation by Jammu and Kashmir police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) this morning.

However, Hizbul Mujahideen said the commander was arrested and later killed in a fake encounter.

Inspector General of Police (Kashmir Range) S M Sahai said that Jammu and Kashmir Police and 154 and 162 batallions of CRPF launched a joint operation following a tip-off that HM district commander Riyaz Ahmad Bhat alias Aftab alias Lalbadshah and other militants were hiding at Kochipora Qazigund village in south Kashmir district of Anantnag.

He said as the security forces were sealing the area, militants attacked them with automatic weapons. The fire was returned and in the ensuing gun-battle, Riyaz, a longest surviving militant in north Kashmir was killed. One ak rifle, two magzines and seven rounds of ammunition besides incriminating documents were recovered from the slain militant.

Riyaz was one of the three militants responsible for the grenade attack on National Conference (NC) rally at Kulgam on Saturday in which six people, including a former MLA, were killed and 50 others wounded.

The injured included former minister Sakeena Itoo and other NC leaders.

The killing of Riyaz, a listed militant wanted in several other militancy related incidents, came a day after police identified him and two other militants who were responsible for attacking the NC rally.

The Kashmir police had also announced one lakh rupees reward for anyone providing information about Riyaz and other militants.

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