Top Hizbul commander killed in J&K

JAMMU: Indian security forces killed a top commander of pro-Pakistan militant outfit Hizbul Mijahedeen in a mountainous part of Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir on Monday afternoon.

The militant was identified as Noor Mohammad alias Javed Burky, a 'divisional commander' of Hizbul Mujahedeen, Doda's Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Manohar Singh said.

"Burky had been active in the area since 1992 and was involved in various acts of militancy," Singh said.

Police officials described his killing as "a major setback to the outfit and great success for security forces".

Burky used to frequently visit Pakistani Kashmir between 1990 and 1997 and was considered a "right-hand man of Sayed Salauddin, the supreme commander of Hizbul Mujahedeen". 

He also served as a bodyguard to Salauddin before returning to Doda in 2004 after Shauqat Ali, a 'divisional commander' of the outfit, was killed.

Considered an expert on improvised explosive devices (IEDs), Burky had also developed a strong network of 'overground workers' (OGWs).

Burky was visiting his in-laws' village in Panchraba where he had gone to meet his wife and celebrate his son's first birthday, according to reports.

The security forces have eliminated over a dozen 'commanders' of Hizbul Mujahedeen in the past three months.