Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, Sept 4: Army today arrested one of the longest surviving militants of Kashmir and divisional commander of Hizbul Mujahideen outfit, Waseem alias Talib Lali, from Ajas in the North Kashmir district of Bandipora.
Army sources said here that acting on a specific information regarding the presence of some militants, Army’s 13 Rashtriya Rifles cordoned off Gujerbasti , Sumbal in Bandipora district early today.
Sources said that the militants present near the Nallah in Gujerbasti village fired some shots at Army. “Army retaliated and asked the militants to surrender. The militants accepted the offer and were later detained by the Army”, sources said. No one was injured in the shootout.
The arrested militants have been identified as Talib Hussain Lali son of Gulzaman of Kul Nar Gujerbasti, Sumbal, Abdul Rashid Lali and Showkat Ahmad Mir. “Arms and ammunition have been recovered from the three militants who have now been whisked away to some undisclosed location for questioning”, sources said.
Lali was one of the most wanted militants in Kashmir who joined militancy in 1993 and crossed the Line of Control (LoC) for arms training. He was said to be close to the Hizbul Mujahideen supreme commander, Syed Salahudin. He was carrying a cash reward of Rs 5 lakh on his head.
The 41-year-old Lali was one of the longest surviving Hizbul militant in the Valley with deep rooted contacts on both sides of the Line of Control (LoC).
Sources said that he was active for the past at least 20 years and had risen through the ranks to be among the top hierarchy of the outfit.
Sources said that Lali, was involved in procuring regular and systematic funding from across the border for Hizbul Mujahideen, to promote its activities in Kashmir.
Lali was also receiving militants of various outfits in the area and then launching them to other parts of Kashmir valley. His arrest is said to be a major setback to the militants in Kashmir valley.
Lali is a local Gujjar of Bandipora area and survived for two decades because of his relations in the area. He was said to be helping the local Gujjars financially.
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