Top Hizb-ul Mujahideen commander killed in Doda shootout

Jammu, Aug 1 (UNI) Security forces today gunned down a top Pakistani Hizb-ul Mujahideen (HM) commander in Doda district, causing another major blow to the militancy perpetrators within a fortnight in Jammu and Kashmir, police said.

In a pre-dawn operation, a joint team of 10 Rashtriya Rifles and police killed an HM 'divisional commander' Abid Hussian Basra (radio communication Code K-2) at Nagna Nullah, SSP Doda Manohar Singh told UNI.

The militant commander, who belonged to Rehimyarkhan area of Pakistan's Punjab region, was having several other pseudonyms like, Zargam and Hayat in his operational area, he said.

''Abid Hussain (Basra) was involved in many militancy-related incidents in the region for last ten years,'' the SSP said.

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

With the elimination of this Pakistani HM commander, security agencies claimed to have broken the spine of militancy in the region.

Earlier on July 18, security forces had killed all India coordinator of Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) outfit Abu Umar in Bhaderwah area of Doda.

The HM -- one of the 32 outfits proscribed under the Prevention of Terrorism Act, 2002 -- is the largest operating militant outfit in the state with a cadre base drawn from indigenous and foreign sources.

UNI