A Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist was killed as security forces foiled an infiltration attempt along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch during on Monday, said defence officials. The terrorist has been identified as Muneer Hussain, a resident of Bagyladra Poonch. He was the self-styled Division Commander of Hizbul Mujahideen.
Hussain went to Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK) in 1993 and returned in 1996 and again went back to PoK in 1998, said the Army.
Hussain masterminded number of attacks on security forces
The officials said that Hussain had masterminded a number of attacks on security forces and he was close to a close associate of Maulana Dawood Kashmir, who in turn is a close associate of Syed Salauddin, the Hizbul Mujahideen founder.
''As per reliable intelligence inputs, a high-level meeting of the Hizbul Mujahideen Group took place in Islamabad which he attended. The agenda of the meeting was a revival of terrorism in Rajouri and Poonch areas,'' the official statement reads.
Muneer Hussain along with his bodyguard was sent with the agenda of reviving Hizbul Mujahideen in Rajouri Poonch and South of Pir Panjal. He was given a larger leadership role of Tanzeems and also told to revive terrorism South of Pir Panjal. 'It is evident that Pak is trying to send old terror veterans to UT of J&K to motivate and recruit youth thus making desperate attempts to revive terrorism,'' it added.
Indian Army foiled an infiltration bid
Earlier today, the Indian Army foiled an infiltration attempt in the Poonch sector and two infiltrators were shot during the counter-infiltration operation that was jointly carried out by the Army and Jammu and Kashmir.
Jammu-based defence PRO Lt Col Suneel Bartwal said a military party laid out contact with terrorists in the Garhi battalion area around 2 am. "Two people were noticed getting across LoC in the overall area of Degwar Terva. In the resulting firefight, one terrorist was seen dropping while the second moved towards Pintu Nala," the official said. The entire region was cordoned off and a search operation is in progress, authorities said.
This was the second infiltration bid along the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir in the last 24 hours. On Sunday, one terrorist was killed after the Indian Army thwarted a penetration bid along the LoC in the Kupwara area, the police said.
