Latest in Valley: 145;Freelance146; killings

The J-K Police today said that 8220;supari8221; killings have become part of Kashmir militancy, claiming it has busted a new race of freelance militants, conducting target killings

The J-K Police today said that 8220;supari8221; killings have become part of Kashmir militancy, claiming it has busted a new race of freelance militants, conducting target killings, grenade attacks and other violent acts simultaneously for two organisations.

Inspector General of Police, Kashmir Range, Shiv Murari Sahai said at a press conference today that the Srinagar Police has arrested 13 such freelance militants8212;including a woman8212;and solved 10 cases of point-blank assassination bids, target killings and also high profile grenade attacks at the house of Hurriyat moderate leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and his conglomerate headquarters earlier this year.

The network includes six youths from downtown Srinagar localities, while the others are from Sumbal and Pattan in north Kashmir. Sahai also said that the police have recovered three AK rifles, 12 magazines, 100 rounds, four pouches, two pistols and 20 hand grenades from the network.

8220;The woman, Rafiqa, is a classic case. In conjecture with militants, she was plotting to murder her husband. This is exactly how supari killings are done,8221; he said. 8220;We are now investigating the murder of her first husband,8221; the IGP said.

Sahai said that their investigations have established that militancy here has now been 8220;criminalised and militant organisations are outsourcing their violent activities to hoodlums8221;. He said this network of youths was operating in the name of the Siddique group.

8220;They were working under the direct command of Abu Tahir a Pakistani commander of Lashkar, who is in charge of north Kashmir,8221; he said. 8220;But they were executing different acts for the Hizbul Mujahideen,8221; he added.

Sahai said police investigations have revealed that the group Siddique group was working for militant organisations 8220;purely for pecuniary benefits8221; and 8220;were paid by both the organisations8221;.