Security forces gun down wanted Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist near Line of Control in Kashmir

Security forces gunned down a wanted terrorist active in Kashmir for the last 17 years in an encounter along the Line of Control (LoC) in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district on Tuesday.

The killed terrorist has been identified as Abdul Qayoom Najar. The 43-year-old militant, a resident of Sopore area of Baramulla district, carried Rs 10 lakh bounty on his head.

According to police Najar was wanted for more than 50 killings including policeman in Hygman are of Sopore.

Imtiyaz Hussain, Baramulla Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), said, “Najar was killed by security forces foiling an infiltration bid in Lachipora area near the LoC on Tuesday morning.”

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Another police official said that Najar was trying to infiltrate into Kashmir from Pakistan side.

SSP further said, “Najar had joined the militancy at the age of 18. He was arrested in 1992 but later released. Najar joined the militant ranks again after being released in 1995.”

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The officer further said Najar was called to the base camp in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir by his handlers in 2015. Najar recently broke away from Hizbul Mujahideen and had formed his own outfit Lashkar-e-Islam which has carried out a series of attacks on cellphone towers.