| Killing of Al-Badar chief, major jolt to militancy, big success for SFs: IGP Kashmir | | |
Srinagar, Mar 10 (UNI) A top police officer on Wednesday said that the killing of Al-Badar chief Gani Khawja in an encounter is a major success for security forces and a big jolt to militancy as he was instrumental in reviving the militant outfit in the valley, including recruiting youth, planning attacks and receiving new groups from across the Line of Control (LoC).
"The killing of Khawja is a major success for security forces because he is the one, who on the behest of Pakistan activated Al-Badar in 2020. He succeeded in recruiting much youth in the militant ranks. All the militants belonging to Al-Badar, who were killed in recent encounters, were recruited by him," Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kashmir, Vijay Kumar told reporters during a press conference here on Wednesday.
He said Khawja was responsible for receiving militant groups from across the border in the Kupwara district and transport them to safe places in the north and south Kashmir. "He was also an expert in providing logistic support and creating policy, including identification of targets," Mr Kumar said.
The IGP congratulated police and other security force agencies for killing the top commander without incurring any causality. "An AK rifle and other huge caches of arms and ammunition were recovered from the encounter site. This proves he was a very big commander," he added.
Giving details about the encounter, Mr Kumar said that following specific information about the presence of Khawja and two other militants, a joint Cordon and Search Operation (CASO) was launched by Police, Army and CRPF in Tujjer Sharief in the apple township of Sopore in north Kashmir district of Baramulla on Tuesday evening.
However, he said when security forces were moving towards a particular area, militants fired at them with automatic weapons. "The security forces retaliated ensuing in an encounter," he said, adding Khawja was killed in the exchange of fire.
He said the other two militants managed to escape during the initial exchange of fire.
About his background, Mr Kumar said Khawja had crossed over to Pakistan in 2000 for arms training. "He returned in 2002 and was active for five years in north Kashmir. Police arrested him in 2007 and he was booked under Public Safety Act (PSA). But, he was released in 2008," the IGP said.
He said Khawja was working as an Over Ground Worker (OGW) till December 2015. "In January 2018, he became active with Hizbul Mujahideen (HM). But, he left HM and joined AL Badar as its chief on August 5, 2019. "In 2020, on the behest Pakistan, Khawja reactivated Al Badar," he added. |
|
