Militant who plotted Lal Chowk attack killed

A Kashmiri militant and an Armyman were also killed in the gunbattle.

After getting information about the presence of militants,police and 52 Rashtriya Rifles raided the house they were hiding in Tuesday afternoon and killed them in a gunbattle that ended Wednesday morning.

“We killed two militants in the operation that was launched in the afternoon and one among the slain militants is top militant commander Nauman alias Mike Islam,and another is a local militant,Arif Ahmad of Adipora,Sopore,” Superintendent of Police,Sopore,Altaf Khan said.

Two AK 47 rifles,six magazines and a GPS were found on the slain militants,he added.

Police said Nauman was active in the Valley for the past six years. For the first three years,he operated mainly in Lolab in Kupwara district. However,two years ago,he was made Kashmir chief of Harkat when Ali Sher went back to Pakistan.

Nauman allegedly guided the two fidayeen who attacked Lal Chowk on January 7 through their 22-hour gunbattle with security forces over cellphone. He was also accused of killing two policemen,three CRPF men and mother of a lady SPO.

Police claim Nauman’s killing is a big success as he was known to motivate youth to join the ranks of militants.

Nauman had given security forces the slip several times in the past. Sources said he was close to LeT commander Abdullah Ooni who has also escaped Army net several times and is still at large.

Nauman is the second top militant commander killed in the Valley this week. On Monday,Police and Army had killed Lashkar’s Divisional Commander Abu Zaar in Bandipore district.

20 years on,SC upholds lifer for militant

New Delhi: The SC on Wednesday upheld a TADA life imprisonment verdict awarded to a Hizbul Mujahideen militant for killing Kashmiri leader Mirwaiz Moulvi Farooq 20 years ago in Srinagar.

The apex court rejected the argument of Mohammad Ayub Dar that the confession recorded under TADA (Terrorist and Disruptive Activities) Act at the time was erroneous. “We feel completely satisfied that the confession was properly recorded and it was also recorded in a free atmosphere,” the apex court said,dismissing Dar’s appeal.

Farooq was shot dead in Srinagar on May 21,1990. Dar was arrested in Delhi soon after and given life in jail for offences under TADA and RPC (Ranbir Penal Code). ens