In a statement, issued to KNS, a spokesperson said that Handwara Police along with SSB during routine Naka checking regarding enforcement of Covid appropriate behaviour at Watyen Handwara had stopped number of vehicles which were being checked.
“During checking, one pedestrian was behaving in a very suspicious manner, who was tactfully apprehended by the joint Naka party. During his personal search one grenade was recovered from his possession. Accordingly, he was immediately shifted to the nearest police post for questioning. During questioning, he identified himself as Mehraj-ud-din Halwai alias Ubaid Son of Abdul Khaliq resident of Khushal Mattoo Sopore, an active militant commander of HM,” the statement reads.
It reads that during further questioning, on his disclosure multiple CASOs were launched by Handwara Police, Army, CRPF and SSB in which at village area Pazipora Renan Kralgund Handwara.
“When CASO was started, he tried to pin point the location where he has kept his arms and ammunition. Upon reaching at the disclosed hideout location, he picked up his hidden AK-47 rifle and started firing indiscriminately upon the joint search party which led to an encounter. In the ensuing firefight he got killed.”
As per the statement, he was a categorised A++ militant and was group commander of HM. “He was active since 2012 and was involved in several killings in north Kashmir. He had a long crime history including attacks on Police/SFs and civilian atrocities. He was part of group involved in various crimes and several cases were registered against him. He was involved in killing of SPO Mudasir Ahmad Dar of Untoo Hamam Sopore on 28-07-2013, attack on Sarpanch Khazir Mohd Parray of Krankshivan on 26-07-2013, killing of Sarpanch Habib Ullah Mir of Goripora Bomai, attack on Panch Mst Zoona Begum of Hardshiva Sopore, attack on police party at Hygam Sopore along with his associates on 26-04-2013, in which 04 policemen got killed besides, decamped with three weapons of the killed policemen, killing of Hurriyat activists Sheikh Altaf-ur-Rehman of Iqbal Nagar Sopore & Khursheed Ahmad Bhat of Bomai Sopore, killing of ex-militant mehraj-ud-Din Dar of Badambagh Sopore & Aijaz Ahmad Reshi of Mundji Sopore.”
“Besides, he was involved in attacks on various establishments including attack on Hotel Heemal Srinagar.”
The statement reads that the killed militant was well acquainted with modern means of communication by which he would communicate with other militants and plan and execute different militant activities on ground.
“He was instrumental in motivating and recruitment of youth into militant ranks besides was raising funds for promotion of militant activities. In this connection police have registered a case under relevant sections of law and investigation has been initiated,” it reads. (KNS)
