Taking its ‘all-out’ practice against militants a step further, the Indian Army today released a list of 12 most dreaded terrorists in the Kashmir Valley, asserting that a lookout was on for the listed militants.
The move comes three days after the security forces gunned down Sabzar Bhat – the commander of Pakistan-sponsored terror outfit Hizbul Mujahideen – in an encounter in south Kashmir’s Tral area on Saturday.
Among the prominent names in the list Riyaz Naikoo alias Zubair, and Zakir Rashid Bhat alias Zakir Musa. Naikoo is reportedly the next Hizbul commander in Kashmir after the death of Sabzar, who was the successor of Burhan Wani.
He is known to be tech savvy and active on social media like Wani. Naikoo is considered a moderate among the hardline Hizbul terrorists, and speaks contrary to the toppled Hizbul commander Zakir Musa. He favours a secular society in the Kashmir Valley.
On the other hand, Musa was Wani's successor after the latter's killing by security forces on July 8 last year.
Earlier this month, Musa had released a video in which he threatened to behead the separatists if they created hurdles in establishing Sharia in Kashmir. The Hizbul Mujahideen snubbed Musa over his comment and he later announced parting of ways with the group.
Here is the complete list of the wanted terrorists released by the Indian Army:
