12 militant chiefs on security radar: IGP

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, July 4

Amid stepped-up operations, 12 active militant commanders of three outfits are on the security forces’ radar.

They include five commanders from the Hizbul Mujahideen, four from Jaish-e-Mohammad and three from the Lashkar-e-Toiba.

In the first half of this year, 118 militants, including top commanders of the Hizb, Jaish, Lashkar and the Ansar Ghazwat-Ul-Hind, were killed in various gunbattles in Kashmir Valley. The top commanders killed were Riyaz Naikoo, chief operational commander of the Hizb, Lashkar’s Haider, Jaish IED expert Abdur Rehman, alias Fouji Bhai, Burhan Koka of Ansar and Juanid Sehari of the Hizb.

“Now our target number one is Pakistani Jaish commander Adnan, known as ‘Lambu bahi’ who is an IED expert. Another Jaish militant commander Waleed Bahi, a Pakistani and an IED expert, is also the most-wanted militant,” Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kashmir, Vijay Kumar, said.

Jaish’s operational chief, who is known by the name of Gazi Abdul Rashid, too, features on the security radar.

“It is said that Ghazi is ex-Pakistan army man. He is active in south Kashmir’s Khrew area,” Kumar said.

The IGP said in the Hizb, the operational chief of the outfit Saifullah Mir, alias Dr Saifullah, is the most-wanted militant commander. Mir succeeded Riyaz Naikoo who was killed in a gunfight in May this year.

Besides, Hizb’s another senior commander Ashraf Molvi is in focus of the security forces.

IGP Kumar said Usman bahi, the Lashkar commander who is involved in many attacks including the recent attack in north Kashmir’s Sopore is on the security radar.