Srinagar, Jul 8 : The most wanted top commander of Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) Burhan Wani was among the three militants, killed by security forces in a fierce encounter in south Kashmir district of Anantnag.
The encounter started in Bumdoora village of Kokernag in the district after a joint team of police and Army launched a search operation on the basis of specific intelligence inputs about the presence of militants, a police official said. The intelligence sources have told TOI that the three terrorists were planning a big attack.
While the security forces were conducting the search operation, the hiding militants fired at them, triggering the gunbattle, he said.
A school drop-out from South Kashmir’s Tral, Burhan was seen as the new face of militancy in Kashmir. He left home in 2010, days ahead of his Class 10 examination to join the Hizbul.
Wani featured in videos circulated on Facebook and WhatsApp aimed at recruiting young Kashmiri men for militants.
Last month, Wani released a video warning of attacks on separate colonies for Sainiks and Kashmiri Pandits if they are set up in the Valley.
The major part of the video message, however, was directed at the Jammu and Kashmir Police warning them of more attacks.
Reportedly, there was a Rs 10 lakh reward for information leading to his arrest.
The other terrorist killed along with Wani was Sartaj Ahmad Shaikh, who is a resident of Kokernag area and was believed to have carried out several attacks on police in South Kashmir. The identity of the third is yet to be ascertained.
(With inputs from news agencies)
