Longest surviving Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM) commander Ashraf Molvi was killed, along with two other terrorists, at Srichand Top (forest area) in Pahalgam of Jammu and Kashmir’s Anantnag district, said police on Friday.
Inspector-General of Police Kashmir Vijay Kumar said Ashraf Molvi along with two other militants have been killed in Pahalgam.
Mohd Ashraf Khan alias Ashraf Molvi, a resident of Tengpawa Kokernag, had joined Hizb in 2013 and soon became the most wanted militant in the valley. Molvi was instrumental in recruiting locals into the oufit, the police chief added.
Earlier, a joint team of police and 19RR of the Army launched a cordon and search operation in the Batkoot forest. As the joint team
of police intensified their search towards the suspected spot, the hiding militants fired upon the search party, leading to an encounter.
On Friday, Budgam Police along with 62 RR and 43 Bn CRPF arrested two OGWs of proscribed terror outfit Ansar Gazwat ul Hind in the Huroo area of Budgam. Arrested OGWs have been identified as Amir Manzoor Budoo of Dangerpora Razwan, and Shahid Rasool Ganai of Puttermulla, Safapora, Ganderbal.
Incriminating material of proscribed terror outfit AGuH, one hand grenade, and 25 AK-47 rounds have been recovered from their possession.
Accordingly, a case vide FIR number 134/2022 under relevant sections of law has been registered at Police Station Budgam and investigation taken up.
Similarly, on Friday, J&K police claimed to have arrested a Lashkar-e-Toiba militant along with a militant associate in North Kashmir’s Baramulla district.
In a statement, police said that a joint force of Baramulla Police, Army 46 RR, 53 Bn CRPF and 2nd Bn SSB established routine MVCP near Hilltop Cheradari Baramulla. During checking the party observed the movement of two unknown persons who were coming towards Cheradari.
The police spokesman further said that on seeing the party the duo tried to flee from the spot. However, both the individuals were tactfully apprehended, who on interrogation disclosed their identities as Ashiq Hossain Lone son of Gh Nabi Lone resident of Hyder Mohalla Ushkara Baramulla and Uzair Amin Ganie son of Mohd Amin Ganie resident of Kanthbagh Baramulla.
On personal search 1 pistol, 1 pistol magazine, 08 live rounds of 9 mm pistol and 2 HE 36 grenades were recovered from the possession of Ashiq Hussain Lone while as 2 UBGL grenades were recovered from the possession of Uzair Amin Ganie.