Naikoo's killing big jolt to militancy in Kashmir: IGP

IGP Vijay Kumar said Naikoo was on their radar for the past six months

[File] Commander-in-Chief of Hizbul Mujahideen Riyaz Naikoo | PTI [File] Commander-in-Chief of Hizbul Mujahideen Riyaz Naikoo | PTI

Inspector General of Police, Kashmir, Vijay Kumar said the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen chief operations commander Riyaz Naikoo is a big jolt to militancy in Kashmir and will help contain it.

Addressing a press conference, Kumar said that Naikoo was an influential militant commander and would release videos every month to entice people into militancy and directed his cadre to kill civilians and police.

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“I will not hesitate in saying that Naikoo was a very influential militant commander,’’ Kumar said. “His killing will help contain militancy in Kashmir.”

He said Naikoo was on their radar for the past six months.

“Day before yesterday, we tracked his movement and finally got him in at Beighpora, Awantipora, along with his aide,” Kumar said.

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When asked whether the Hizbul leadership has been eliminated, the IGP said that some other militant will step in but the police would go after him too.

Referring to the Handwara encounter in which five security men and two militants were killed, he said the killing of Laskhar commander Haider in the encounter is a big jolt to the group.

About the emergence of the new shadowy group, The Resistance Front (TRF), Kumar said it was a shadow of Lashkar. “There is international pressure on Pakistan to stop militancy and so, they have floated the TRF,’’ he said.

About the communication blockade after Naikoo’s killing, he said it was necessary to prevent rumour mongering, and added that the communication will be restored soon.

He said since the start of the year, 64 militants have been killed in 27 operations.