Five months after eliminating Zakir Musa, chief of Ansar Ghazwat-Ul-Hind — a group affiliated with al-Qaeda — a joint team of security forces on Tuesday evening gunned down his successor Hamid Lelhari in Awantipora area of South Kashmir’s Pulwama district.
After the successful operation, which was conducted on receipt of specific intelligence input about the presence of three terrorists in the area, the security forces identified the prize catch on Wednesday morning.
Confirming the elimination of one of the top commanders in the Valley, the State police chief Dilbag Singh at a Press conference announced, “The Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind terror outfit has been wiped out with the elimination of Hamid Lelhari.”
He said, some elements who are overground workers are still there. They suddenly crop up and join terror ranks. But, as of now, the AGH has been wiped out from Kashmir,” he added. 30-year-old Lelhari was trapped by the security forces inside a house as they timely launched a cordon and search operation in the area without wasting precious time.
Addressing a Press conference in Srinagar, State police chief Dilbagh Singh said, “All the killed terrorists as per police records were part of the Zakir Musa group and were wanted by police for their complicity in a series of terror crimes, including attacks on security establishments and civilian atrocities.”
The police chief said the anti-militancy operation had dealt a severe blow to the AGH.
According to Singh, the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed was also trying to coordinate with other terror groups, including the AGH, in Kashmir to carry out attacks.
“The JeM is trying to coordinate with every terrorist group in Kashmir. JeM and LeT get directions from Pakistan on who to target, what type of violence to incite and at which level. So JeM and LeT are both trying to coordinate with every group,” he added.
Asked if the AGH’s contact with JeM meant it was in Pakistan’s hold, the DGP said the connection is “indicated”.
Commenting on the successful infiltration bids made by the infiltrators, the police chief said a “sizeable number” of militants had infiltrated since August 5, when the Centre announced that it was revoking Jammu & Kashmir’s special status and bifurcating it into two Union Territories.
“(It is) difficult to give a number of militants who have come in after August 5. But their number is sizeable that much I can say,” he told reporters in response to a question.
“Their sightings have taken place at a number of places in north as well as south Kashmir. Going by that, we feel the number is sizeable. It is not that big that we should be very worried about it. As it happens, they send some number, we deplete some number. So, therefore, that process is on,” he said.
Asserting that the decline in militancy was troubling Pakistan, Singh said it was the reason the neighbouring country was pushing in terrorists through infiltration attempts.
“Few militants have infiltrated, but many of their attempts have been rendered unsuccessful. Ceasefire violations are on in Rajouri-Poonch, HiraNagar-Samba, Karnah-Uri, Machhil, Keran and Gurez sectors and it has become a routine. Whenever Pakistan violates the ceasefire, its attempt is to push in more militants... (Pakistan) Army and ISI are fully involved at (militant) launch pads near the LoC to push in militants,” he said.
Referring to the Block Development council polls, scheduled to take place on October 24, the DGP said arrangements had been made for local body polls and they will be peaceful.
There were apprehensions that youth would join militancy after the Centre’s August 5 decision but those were unfounded, the police chief said.
