Increased surveillance on Burhan’s anniversary: IGP
Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, July 7 : One of the longest surviving commanders of Hizbul-Mujahideen for North Kashmir, Mehraj-Ud-Din alias Ubaid was killed in a gunfight at Pazipora area of Kralgund in North Kashmir’s Handwara area today.
Inspector General of Police Vijay Kumar told Excelsior that Mehraj was one of the longest surviving Hizb militants. He said that they received a specific input about his movement and then a joint cordon was laid by Police, Army and CRPF. Click here to watch video
“We captured him alive at a checkpoint and recovered a grenade from him. After his questioning, he pinpointed some hideouts, after which joint CASO was launched. At one of the locations disclosed by him, we took him along, where he took out his AK-47 rifle, that he had kept hidden there, and started opening fire at security forces,” the IGP Kumar said, adding that “in the encounter, he was killed and the AK-47 rifle recovered from him.”
Kumar said Obaid was diploma holder in Computers and was very tech-savy. “He was the master recruiter of local youth and would also give training to them. He was involved in many incidents and there are many cases registered against him. At two hideouts revealed by him, militants had fled before we reached there,” he added.
The IGP said that though some requests are pouring in that the internet should be snapped given the fact that an online portal from across the LoC has published posters calling for strike on July 8 and July 13.
“A police party went to Syed Ali Shah Geelani’s house to confirm whether he had called for any strike, but family members denied and termed posters on Geelani’s name as fake,” he said.
Kumar said that police won’t snap the internet but surveillance will be increased to keep anti-social and anti-peace elements at bay on July 8 and July 13.
“Since August 5,2019, there has been no civilian killings in Kashmir which has frustrated the people across. So anti-peace elements may try to foment trouble on July 8 and July 13, but we are ready to foil all such attempts,” he said.
July 8 marks the anniversary of Hizbul commander Burhan Wani who was killed on this day in Anantnag district during an encounter.
A Police spokesman said that Handwara Police along with SSB during routine Naka checking regarding enforcement of COVID appropriate behaviour at Watyen Handwara had stopped number of vehicles which were being checked.
“During checking, one pedestrian was behaving in a very suspicious manner, who was tactfully apprehended by the joint Naka party. During his personal search one grenade was recovered from his possession. Accordingly, he was immediately shifted to nearest police post for questioning. During questioning, he identified himself as Mehraj-Ud-Din Halwai @Ubaid Son of Abdul Khaliq resident of Khushal Mattoo Sopore, an active terrorist commander of proscribed terror outfit HM”, police said.
“During further questioning, on his disclosure multiple CASOs were launched by Handwara Police, Army, CRPF and SSB at village area Pazipora Renan Kralgund Handwara. When CASO was started, the said terrorist tried to pin point the location where he had kept his arms and ammunition. Upon reaching at the disclosed hideout location, the said terrorist picked up his hidden AK-47 rifle and started firing indiscriminately upon the joint search party which led to an encounter. In the ensuing firefight the said terrorist got killed”, the spokesman added.
As per police records, he was a categorized A++ militant and was group commander of HM. “He was active since 2012 and was involved in several killings in North Kashmir. He had a long terror crime history including attacks on Police/SFs and civilian atrocities. He was part of group involved in various terror crimes and several cases were registered against him. He was involved in killing of SPO Mudasir Ahmad Dar of Untoo Hamam Sopore on 28-07-2013, attack on Sarpanch Khazir Mohd Parray of Krankshivan on 26-07-2013, killing of Sarpanch Habib Ullah Mir of Goripora Bomai, attack on Panch Zoona Begum of Hardshiva Sopore, attack on police party at Hygam Sopore along with his associates on 26-04-2013, in which four policemen got killed besides, decamped with three weapons of the killed policemen, killing of Hurriyat activists Sheikh Altaf-ur-Rehman of Iqbal Nagar Sopore and Khursheed Ahamd Bhat of Bomai Sopore, killing of ex-terrorists Mehraj-ud-Din Dar of Badambagh Sopore and Aijaz Ahmad Reshi of Mundji Sopore. Besides, he was involved in attacks on various establishments including attack on Hotel Heemal Srinagar”, the spokesman added.
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