The video comes almost three weeks after Hizbul Mujahideen named its new commander under the nom de guerre~ Mehmood Ghaznavi.
Even as Kashmir continues to witness protests that followed Burhan Wani's killing on July 8, a video recording, showing Hizbul Mujahideen's new commander along with four other militants, has started to do rounds in the Valley.
The video comes almost three weeks after Hizbul Mujahideen named its new commander under the nom de guerre~ Mehmood Ghaznavi. dna had first reported that security agencies believe the chosen commander is likely to be 21-year-old Zakir Rashid Bhat, who was an engineering student in a Chandigarh college before becoming a militant in 2013.
Even though some in security establishment believe that Sabzar Ahmed, another Hizb militant, might be Ghaznavi, sources say it is likely Zakir would have been given the responsibility to head Hizbul Mujahideen's southern operations owing to his seniority. Burhan Wani before being killed was heading the southern operations.
Both Zakir and Sabzar, figure in the latest video, believed to be recorded in a south Kashmir forest. The video also features three other individuals (excluding the camera-person) who are yet to be identified but are believed to be new recruits to Hizbul Mujahideen. The five militants are dressed in camouflage military attire in the video which is one minute 25 seconds long
The video starts with Sabzar waving at the camera and then focuses on another militant who is first seen handling his weapon and then smiling into the camera. Zakir is shown fiddling with a mobile phone while the other two look on. The camera moves away from the three and turns towards two other militants who are seen lying on the ground and using their mobiles. No conversation seems to be taking place during the recording of the video. It is yet to be ascertained when or where exactly was the video taken. However, given by the new faces that feature in the video, it is likely that it was recorded after Burhan Wani's killing.
Owing the crises in Kashmir, security agencies do not seem to have not taken stock of the new video yet. However officials told dna the video is aimed to follow tactics of slain Hizbul militant Burhan Wani who used social media to address people as well garner support from Kashmiri locals. Burhan Wani's speeches were also aimed to gather more recruits for the Hizbul Mujahideen.
"Obviously militancy will be addressed but priority for now is to maintain law and order, " a senior intelligence official told dna when asked about the new video. The Valley has seen over 50 deaths in protests that followed Wani's killing. Thousands have been left injured, even some even blinded, in clashes with security forces.
It is yet to be seen if the new Hizbul commander will follow Burhan Wani's tracks and use social media to pass his messages. Zakir, was pursuing a degree in civil engineering from a college in Chandigarh when he decided to join militant ranks in year 2013. The 21-year-old had left college for a brief vacation and after staying at his home South Kashmir's Pulwama district Zakir left behind a letter addressing his parents where in he stated that he was going to join militancy "to deal with the atrocities faced by Kashmiri people".
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