With 'hit list' of Kashmir's most wanted, forces set for final terror crackdown

Sep 3 (AZINS) Security forces have drawn a list of 17 most wanted terrorist commanders, whose elimination holds key for bringing about peace in the trouble-torn Kashmir Valley.

Lashkar-e-Tioba (LeT) tops the list with seven commanders wanted by the forces. It is followed by Hizbul Mujhedeen which has six commanders in the list. Two commanders of Jaish-e-Mohammad are also in the list while one commander each of Al Badr and Ansar Gazwat ul Hind also figure in the list.

Hizbul Chief Operations Commander Riyaz Naikoo alias Mohammad Bin Qasim, who is the mastermind of the recent abductions of policemen’s kins, is the topmost wanted commander among the list. Hailing from Beighpora village in Pulwama district, the tech-savvy Naikoo has been active since 2010. Being a A++ category terrorist, he has Rs 12.5 lakh bounty on his head.

Pakistani LeT commander Naveed Jatt is another top commander on the hit list of the security forces. Jatt of Multan Pakistan, who had confessed to have met the 26/11 attacker Ajmal Kasab in the training camp in Pakistan, escaped from Shri Maharaja Hari Singh (SMHS) hospital after his associates shot dead two policemen accompanying him for medical checkup and investigations on February 6. He is the prime accused in the killing of senior journalist Shujaat Bukhari.

Zakir Rashid Bhat alias Zakir Musa, who is the Chief Commander of Al Qaeda affiliate Ansar Gazwat Ul Hind is another top commander wanted by the security forces. Hailing from Noorpora Tral, Zakir Musa was a top aide of Burhan Wani before he switched sides and brought Al Qaeda on the militancy scene of Kashmir. An engineering drop-out, he is an A++ category terrorist.

Dr Saifullah alias Abu Musaib is heading the medical team of Hizbul Mujhadeen. Hailing from Malangpora in Pulwama, he has been active since 2014. He shot into limelight after his video of operating an injured Jihadi went viral.

Zeenat Ul Islam alias Usmaan is Category: A++ militant of Hizbul Mujhadeen. A resident of Sugan Shopian, he is regarded as the IED expert. Active since 2015, he is currently the commander of Hizbul in Shopian.

Zahid Bhat of Karimabad Pulwama is the most wanted commander of Jaish-e-Mohommad. An A++ category terrorist, he is credited of reviving the Jaish after the killing of top militant commanders including Noor Trali and others in the encounter. He carries a bounty of Rs 12.5 lakh by virtue of being A++ commander.

Sources said the security forces have doubled up efforts to neutralise the commanders in a bid to demoralize the cadres down the ranks which can help in bring about peace in the restive valley particularly the troubled south Kashmir.