Srinagar, July 1: Police on Wednesday said that twelve top commanders from various outfits were “prime targets” of police and security forces in the Valley.
Addressing reporters here, IGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar said that 118 militants were killed this year including 57 from Hizb-ul-Mujahideen, 24 from Lashkar-e-Toiba and 22 from Jaish-e-Mohammad besides seven militants from ISJK and one slain from Al-Badr.
He termed as big success in killing top commanders of the militant outfits that include Reyaz Naikoo of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen, Haider of LeT, Qari Yasir of JeM, Burhan Koka of AGH and Fouji Bhai of JeM. “HM’s poster boy (Junaid Sehrai) who was luring youth towards militancy raising funds was also killed.
The police officer said local militant recruitment has come down this year by about 48 per cent and termed the same a major big success for the police and other uniformed forces. “Among the 67 new recruits, 24 were killed, 12 were arrested,” he said and urged parents to appeal their children to return back. “We promise we will facilitate their return and won’t lodge any case against them,” the IGP said.
He said 12 top commanders are “prime targets and said their movement is being tracked so that they are killed soon.
“The Pakistani militants include Jaish’s Lambu, who is also known as Adnan Bhai, then there is Walid bhai and Ghazi Rashid, also from Jaish. Ghazi Rashid is believed to be an ex-Pakistani army man,” he said, adding, “LeT’s Usman Bhai, Ishfaq and Yousuf Kandroo, who is from Budgam, are also our targets.” He said that list also includes “Dr Saifullah, who took over command of Hizbul Mujahideen after the killing of Riyaz Naikoo, and Farooq Nali, Ashraf Molve and Zuhaib Wani, who have been involved in a number of killings of policemen,” Kumar said.
Terming Narcotic-related crimes as second important for police after militancy, he said, it spoils “our youth.
“We are doing lot on this front and don not highlight it in media. Last six months alone, 304 cases have been registered and 496 people involved in this have been arrested. 22.56 Heroin worth Rs 200 Crore as per market price beside 200 kg charus, 10 thousands bottles of syrups used by youth, 800 injections etc have been seized. Also Rs 1.37 Crore has been seized as well.,” he said. The top police officer also announced that recent Handwara case is being handed over to NIA.
