Indian Armed Forces Eliminate Top Hizbul Mujahideen Commander Riyaz Naikoo In Pulwama Encounter

The Indian Armed Forces have dealt a severe blow to terrorism in the Kashmir valley after killing top Hizbul Mujahideen commander Riyaz Naikoo at an encounter in Pulwama’s Beighpora.

A massive manhunt was launched by a joint team of J&K Police, Indian Army and CRPF in Pulwama yesterday night (6 May) after receiving a specific intelligence input. The armed forces were then successful in trapping Naikoo and a firefight ensued.

Another terrorist too was killed in the encounter.

Naikoo was the longest surviving terrorist commander in Kashmir and had killed various armed forces personnel and civilians. He had also masterminding the killings of local policemen to put pressure on them not to engage in anti-terror operations.

Naikoo took over as the commander of Hizbul Mujahideen after the outfit's poster boy and commander terrorist Burhan Wani was killed in a gunfight with the security forces in Kokarnag area in Anantnag district in 2016.

Confirming Naikoo's death a senior security forces officer said, "Naikoo has been neutralised along with his associate”.

With Inputs From IANS