Converted Hindu Ultra Is Hizbul Commander

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Converted Hindu ultra is Hizbul commander

Ravi Krishnan Khajuria

Tribune News Service

Jammu, September 6

For the first time in the history of the Jammu region, a Hindu, who converted to Islam, has become a divisional commander of the banned militant outfit, Hizbul Mujahideen (HM).

After Firdous Ahmed Mattoo, alias Prince, was nabbed by the Anantnag police in Kashmir on September 3, Hindu militant Subhash Kumar alias Wafif alias Qamran has become the divisional commander of the banned outfit in Kishtwar, intelligence sources told The Tribune.

After Mattoo, who had been active since 1998, Subhash was the seniormost militant and hence he had been given the charge of the HM in the Jammu region, they said.

From 2003 to 2010, Subhash had been involved in serious offences like killings of two civilians, two Army jawans and a police constable.

In the backdrop of new development, he would now try to revive the HM in the Jammu region, said the sources.

But on the other hand, security forces have intensified their operations to eliminate him.

“Last week, we had launched an operation in the Dacchan area where we had a brief encounter with Subhash and his group. Though they managed to escape, our troops seized one SLR and one AK-47 rifle from the site of encounter,” said Kishtwar SP Hasib Mughal.

“Subhash has been operating with a group of three to four of his close aides in the Dachhan-Lidri-Pinjrari area but we are trying our best to eliminate this entire group”, he added.

“His family had already disowned him while our efforts to bring him back into the mainstream via village elders proved futile and considering the nature of serious offences committed by him, he and his group will meet their fate”, said Mughal.

A class 10 dropout, the 25-year-old ultra belongs to Razna in the Palmar area of Kishtwar and is eldest among four siblings.