Hizbul commander killed after Army foils infiltration bid in Kashmir''s Uri

Majid Jahangir
Tribune News Service
Srinagar, September 26

A commander of the militant outfit Hizbul Mujahideen was killed in a gunbattle with security forces in Baramulla's Uri on Tuesday, police said.  

Indian Army said the gunabattle that killed the militant, identified as Abdul Qayoom Najar, ensued when they foiled an infiltration attempt in Zorawar Lachipira Uri, some 90 km from Srinagar, after they noticed some suspicious movement close to the Line of Control.

(Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)

Najar, the longest surviving Hizbul commander, has been accused of having been involved in more than 50 killings, including that of policemen in Sopore’s Hygam, in the past 17 years. He is also believed to have killed Hizb commander Abdul Majid Dar in 2003.

Baramulla Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Imtiyaz Hussain said: "Najar was killed as security forces foiled an infiltration bid in Lachipora area near the LoC this morning. He was returning to Kashmir to take over the command of Hizbul Mujahideen in the wake of elimination of top commanders of the outfit by security forces," he said.

The officer said Najar’s handlers called him to Hizbul base camp in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in 2015 after he fell out with the Hizbul leadership, the officer said.

"He was then tasked with reviving the outfit in Kashmir in the wake of elimination of top militants," he said.

The development comes amid a combing operation in Uri's Kalgi, where the Army on Sunday foiled a major plan of militants to carry a fidayeen attack on base by killing four militants. With agencies