Hizb district commander killed in Kulgam encounter: Police

Srinagar: J&K police Saturday said it killed the district commander of militant outfit Hizbul Mujahideen in an encounter in south Kashmir’s Kulgam.

In a statement, a police spokesperson identified the slain militant as Mudasir Wagay, the newly appointed district commander for the outfit in Kulgam.

“Newly appointed District Commander of proscribed terror outfit HM Mudasir Wagay got killed in Kulgam encounter. Besides, police busted a sleeper cell module in Pulwama and arrested five active terrorist associates of proscribed terror outfit of LeT,” the spokesperson said.

“Acting on specific input regarding presence of terrorists in Ashmuji area of district Kulgam, a joint cordon and search operation was launched by Police, 9RR and 18Bn CRPF in the said area. During the operation, as the presence of terrorists was ascertained they were given ample opportunities to surrender, instead they started firing indiscriminately on the search parties. The joint parties ensuring the safety of civilians rescued and shifted all the civilians to safer places. The fire was retaliated leading to an encounter,” he said.

“In the ensuing encounter, newly appointed district commander of proscribed terror outfit HM was killed and his body was retrieved from the site of encounter. He has been identified as Mudasir Wagay son of Jamal Wagay resident of Malwan Kulgam. As per police records, killed terrorist Mudasir was an A+ categorized terrorist and was active since year 2018 figuring among the list of most wanted terrorists. He was part of groups involved in several terror crimes including attack on security forces and civilian atrocities. He was also involved in killing of a political worker Ghulam Hassan Lone in Devsar area of Kulgam,” the spokesperson added.

“Moreover, the Insas rifle recovered from the killed terrorist is the same which was snatched by terrorists in year 2017 at Pombay DH Pora during an attack on bank vehicle.”

Incriminating materials, arms and ammunition including said Insas rifle were recovered from the site of encounter. All the recovered materials have been taken into case records for further investigation. Police have registered cases under relevant sections of law and investigations have been initiated.

Meanwhile, Pulwama police said that during the investigation of cases pertaining to multiple grenade attacks in district Pulwama, it “busted a network of active associates of proscribed terrorist outfit LeT by arresting five active terrorist associates.”

“They have been identified as (1) Showket Islam Dar son of Mohd Rustom Dar, (2) Aijaz Ahmad Lone son of Mohd Abdullah, (3) Aijaz Gulzar Lone son of Gulzar Ahmad, (4) Manzoor Ahmad Bhat son of Ali Mohd and (5) Nasser Ahmad Shah son of Late Gh. Rasool all residents of Lelhar Pulwama.”

Preliminary investigation revealed that the module was acting as sleeper cell and were involved in procurement as well as transportation of arms/ammunition, the police spokesperson said.

“They were also involved in carrying out grenade attacks on security forces at the behest of their handlers.Incriminating materials including arms/ammunition have been recovered from their possession. Accordingly, a case vide FIR No. 139/2021 under relevant sections of law has been registered at PS Kakapora. Further investigation into the matter is in progress,” it added.