Srinagar: The occupying Indian Army has claimed that Saifullah Mir, the top commander of Hizbul Mujahideen, was martyred in a clash while one of his comrades has been taken into custody.
According to Kashmir Media Service, a search operation was carried out in Rangareth area on the outskirts of Srinagar by closing the entrances and exits, during which the occupying Indian army opened fire and martyred one youth and detained another.
Kashmir Police IG Vijay Kumar told media that they had gone to arrest Hizbul Mujahideen chief Dr Saifullah on a tip-off, but when confronted with resistance, the Indian Army’s firing confirmed the death of the commander. A colleague has been arrested.
News of the martyrdom of 31-year-old Saifullah sparked anti-India protests in Srinagar, during which protesters hurled stones at the Indian Army and chanted “Go India Go”. Slogans of “freedom”. The Indian army used pellet guns and fired tear gas shells to disperse the protesters.
Hizb-ul-Mujahideen, on the other hand, has not responded to the news. Saifullah Mir took over command of the group in May this year after the martyrdom of Hizbul Mujahideen operations commander Riaz Naiko by the Indian Army.