Militancy ‘poster boy’ killed in Kashmir

Srinagar: In a big blow to militancy in Jammu and Kashmir, Hizbul Mujahideen’s 21-year-old poster boy Burhan Muzzafar Wani was shot dead on Friday by security forces along with two of his accomplices in Kokernag area, 83 km from here.
The killing of Burhan, son of a headmaster and a school dropout, was described by Director General of J&K Police K. Rajendra as a major success for the security forces because he was allegedly instrumental in brainwashing many local boys to take up the gun.
“Yes,” was Rajendra’s cryptic reply to a question whether Burhan was killed in an encounter with security personnel.
Immediately after the news of Burhan’s death spread, pro-Pakistan slogans were heard in downtown Srinagar with people coming out on the roads and burning tyres. Curfew like restrictions were imposed in the area on Friday night.
Giving details, highly-placed sources in the state government said the encounter followed a pinpointed information received about the presence of three highly- trained militants in Bumdoora village at Kokernag in South Kashmir.
Police parties swung into action and laid an outer cordon along with army and moved into the village after sealing every exit point, they said, adding after a brief resistance by locals who resorted to stone pelting, the security forces moved in at 3 PM.
The security forces had gathered information about the presence of one Hizbul Mujahideen militant Sartaz raising hopes that Burhan may also be present as earlier intelligence inputs suggested that both used to move together.
At around 6.15 PM, the encounter ended and scenes of jubilation among the security forces were witnessed after it was found that Burhan was among the three dead. (PTI)