Indian troops kill top rebel commander in Kashmir fighting
02 November, 2020
Indian government forces killed a high rebel commander in Kashmir throughout a gun battle on Sunday (Nov 1) in the disputed region's main city, police said, calling it a major success against the rebels' long fight Indian rule.
The dead commander, Saifullah Mir, was the chief of operations of the region's largest rebel group, Hizbul Mujahideen, which includes spearheaded an armed rebellion against Indian rule for many years.
Inspector-General Vijay Kumar said police and paramilitary soldiers launched an procedure on Sunday in Srinagar in a neighbourhood in the city's outskirts based on a tip that Saifullah was sheltering there. He said a gunfight ensued in which the militant commander was killed and his suspected associate was nabbed.
Kumar said the killing was a significant victory for India's counterinsurgency operations in the region.
There is no immediate confirmation from the rebels about the killing.
Soon after the gunfight, anti-India protests broke out in the neighbourhood. Police fired tear gas and shotgun pellets to stop scores of stone-throwing teenagers from marching in the region.
The protesters were chanting slogans including "We wish freedom" and "Go India, return back". Nobody was reported injured in the clashes.
According to officials, Saifullah joined the rebels' ranks in 2014 and took charge of the Hizbul Mujahideen as its top businesses commander after Indian troops killed his predecessor Reyaz Naikoo in-may.
Kashmir is divided between India and Pakistan, but the rivals each claim the spot in its entirety. Rebels have already been fighting against Indian rule since 1989. Most Muslim Kashmiris support the rebel goal that the territory be united either under Pakistani rule or as an independent country.
India says Kashmir militancy is Pakistan-sponsored terrorism. Pakistan denies the charge, & most Kashmiris call it a legitimate freedom struggle.
Tens of thousands of civilians, rebels and government forces have already been killed in the conflict.
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