Unrest in Hizbul as Salahuddin marries slain militants widow

The Hizbul Mujahideen may be on the decline after suffering a series of reverses in the hands of security forces but what has caused unrest within its ranks is the marriage of its supremo Syed Salahuddin. In a quiet ceremony last week,the 62-year-old militant leader married the widow of a slain HM commander,raising eyebrows within the outfit where such an alliance is considered taboo.

Sources said the HM chief married Noor Jehan,45,at a ceremony in Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK). Noor Jehan is the widow of HM district commander Khursheed Ahmed who was killed by security forces in Kashmir in the 1990s. Khursheed,who was know by the code name of Aurangzeb,belonged to Rainawadi in Srinagar.

According to sources,the wedding ceremony took place on May 16 and the nikah kalaam was read out by Ghulam Nabi Nowsheri. The alliance has caused discomfort within HM ranks,given that marrying the widow of a slain comrade is not favoured.