Aligarh Muslim University Scholar Who Became Top Hizbul Terrorist Killed In Kupwara, Mufti Calls It A Loss

Two Hizbul Mujahideen terrorists were killed on Thursday (11 October) during an encounter with security forces in Kupwara district of north Kashmir. One of them has been identified as Hizbul Mujahideen’s top commander Manan Bashir Wani.

Wani, a PhD scholar from Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) hailed from Kupwara. He reportedly joined the the Hizbul in January this year. Wani was pursuing his PhD in applied geology at AMU) His family claimed that they lost contact with him since January and even filed a missing report with the police.

Mannan had enrolled in AMU after successfully completing Bachelors in Geology and Earth Sciences from the University of Kashmir. He had also completed his Post Graduation and MPhil in Geology from AMU.

According to a report in the Indian Express, Mannan was an active participant in the student union elections at AMU and he also apparently wrote articles on an online portal.

Giving the details of the encounter, the Jammu and Kashmir police informed that the other terrorist too was a Hizbul operative and identified as Ashiq Hussain Zargar, a resident of Tulwari Langate.

Aligarh Muslim University’ Registrar Dr. Abdul Hamid, while reacting to the gunning down of Wani, informed that he was rusticated from the University and that the varsity had no knowledge of his whereabouts ever since.

AMU's registrar added that “AMU has nothing to do with him now. Few students tried to hold a gathering today over his death, three students were suspended,"

Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti termed the killing of the top Hizbul commander as a ‘loss’.

She as a result called for a dialogue between all the stakeholders including Pakistan.