Cotemporary of Burhan Wani killed in North Kashmir, claims police

HANDWARA: Police Wednesday claimed that it killed a top militant commander of North Kashmir who was contemporary of Hizb Commander Burhan Wani of South Kashmir. Police said that Burhan was responsible for killings in South while Mehrajuddin Halwai who was killed in Kralgund Handwara today was behind the killings of ‘civilians and security forces’.

Police said that the slain militant was the oldest militant surviving in North Kashmir who had joined militant ranks in 2011.

Police as per news agency Kashmir News Trust in a series of tweets said that killed militant Mehrajuddin Halwai aliasUbaid had joined militant ranks in the year 2011.  He was a diploma in computer application holder had also been responsible for misusing social media and new methods of communication for militancy.

During his personal search one grenade was recovered from his possession. Accordingly, he was immediately shifted to nearest police post for questioning.During questioning, he identified himself as Mehraj-ud-din Halwai @Ubaid Son of Abdul Khaliq resident of Khushal Mattoo Sopore, an active militant commander of militant outfit HM, they said.

The statement further stated that during further questioning, on his disclosure multiple CASOs were launched by Handwara Police, Army, CRPF and SSB in which at village area Pazipora Renan Kralgund Handwara, when CASO was started, the said militant tried to pin point the location where he has kept his arms and ammunition. Upon reaching at the disclosed hideout location, the said militant picked up his hidden AK-47 rifle and started firing indiscriminately upon the joint search party which led to an encounter. In the ensuing firefight the said militant got killed.

Incriminating material, arms & ammunitions including one Ak-47, 04 Magazines, Power bank, blanket, medicines, etc were recovered from the said hideout (encounter site), they said.

As per police records, the said militant was a categorized A++ militant and was group commander of militant outfit HM. He was active since 2012 and was involved in several killings in north Kashmir. He had a long militant crime history including attacks on Police/SFs and civilian atrocities. He was part of group involved in various  militant crimes and several cases were registered against him. He was involved in killing of SPO Mudasir Ahmad Dar of Untoo Hamam Sopore on 28-07-2013, attack on Sarpanch Khazir Mohd Parray of Krankshivan on 26-07-2013, killing of Sarpanch Habib Ullah Mir of Goripora Bomai, attack on Panch Mst Zoona Begum of Hardshiva Sopore, attack on police party at Hygam Sopore along with his associates on 26-04-2013, in which 04 policemen got killed besides, decamped with three weapons of the killed policemen, killing of Hurriyat activists Sheikh Altaf-ur-Rehman of Iqbal Nagar Sopore & Khursheed Ahamd Bhat of Bomai Sopore, killing of ex-terrorists mehraj-ud-Din Dar of Badambagh Sopore & Aijaz Ahmad Reshi of Mundji Sopore. Besides, he was involved in attacks on various establishments including attack on Hotel Heemal Srinagar, the police statement added.

The killed militant was well acquainted with modern means of communication by which he would communicate with other militants and plan & execute different militant activities on ground. He was instrumental in motivating and recruitment of youth into militant ranks besides was raising funds for promotion of militant activities, they said.

In this connection police have registered a case under relevant sections of law and investigation has been initiated, reads the statement.

#HandwaraEncounterUpdate:
Killed #terrorist Mehrazuddin Halwai @ Ubaid had joined terrorist ranks in the year 2011. A diploma in computer application holder had also been responsible for misusing social media & new methods of communication for #terrorism.@JmuKmrPolice

— Kashmir Zone Police (@KashmirPolice) July 7, 2021

#HandwaraEncounterUpdate:
A contemporary of HM’s notorious #terrorist Burhan Wani. While Burhan was engaged in series of civilian/SFs #killings in South Kashmir, Mehrazuddin Halwai was involved in #killing of civilians/SFs in #NorthKashmir.@JmuKmrPolice

— Kashmir Zone Police (@KashmirPolice) July 7, 2021