Dreaded Hizb-ul militants eliminated in Doda

Jammu, Aug 1 (UNI) A hardcore Pakistani militant, who was involved in a number of atrocities against women, was killed by security forces in an encounter at Bhargran Marmat in Doda, official sourcs said here this evening.

Acting on a tip-off about the presence of Hizb-ul 'divisional commander' Abid Hussain Basra, alias Zargam alias Hayat, 31, at Bhargran Marmat, troops of ten Rashtriya Rifles (RR) and police, launched a search operation at 0130 hrs, Army spokesperson Colonel R K Kaushish said.

As troops were advancing, they were fired upon by militants, which was retaliated, he said, adding in the ensuing encounter, Basra was killed.

Hussain was the body guard of dreaded militant Noor Mohammad alias Javed Burqi, a close associate of Hizb-ul supreme Sayed Salahudeen, who was eliminated on October 30 last year in joint operation by the Army and police, he said.

''According to our record, Hussain was an active militant and after Burqi he was working as deputy divisional commander for Hizb-ul outfit,'' Col Kaushish added.

''The self style deputy commander was a Pakistani national and belonging to village Katora. He was active since past 12 years. The individual was also an IED expert and had Fidayeen training in terrorist camps of Pakistan,'' he said.

The slain militant was also dreaded by locals of Bhadrwah as he had reputation of being ruthless to the young women in the entire district, the spokesperson said adding that he forcibly married a woman from Thanala in 2005.

''After the elimination of Abu Umair, the all India coordinator of Pakistani-based outfit Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT), it is a big success of security forces,'' the spokesman said.

''It is also a major setback for Hizb-ul outfit which is facing shortage of cadre and is wiped out almost 70 per cent from Doda, Ramban and Kishtwar districts,'' he said.

An AK-47 rifle, three magazines, 37 rounds, a binocular, one Chinese grenade, two identity cards and a pouch were recovered from the site of the encounter, he added.

UNI