Top Hizbul Mujahideen 'commander' Ashraf Molvi, active since 2013, was among three militants killed in an operation in south Kashmir's Pahalgam forests on Friday.
"Molvi, one of the oldest surviving terrorists of the Hizbul terror outfit, along with two other terrorists, was killed. It was a successful operation on the Amarnath yatra route. It is a major success for us," Inspector General of Police Vijay Kumar said.
Pahalgam is the main route to the Amarnath shrine. After remaining closed for pilgrimage for three years, this year the yatra will resume from June 30 and will conclude on August 11.
According to the police, Muhammad Ashraf Khan alias Molvi, a resident of Tengpawa, Kokernag, had joined the Hizb in 2013. He was instrumental in recruiting locals into the outfit, the police said.
Molvi and his two associates were encircled by a joint team of the police, Army and the CRPF in the woods of the Batkoot area of Pahalgam in Anantnag district.
2 ultras held in Baramulla
In a separate operation, the police arrested a Lashkar-e-Taiba militant and his "associate" in north Kashmir's Baramulla district.
"During checking, security forces observed suspicious movement of two persons towards Cheradari, near Hilltop Cheradari, Baramulla. The duo tried to flee the spot. However, both were apprehended, who on interrogation disclosed their identities as Ashiq Hossain Lone, son of Gh. Nabi Lone, a resident of Hyder Mohalla Ushkara, Baramulla, and Uzair Amin Ganie, son of Mohd. Amin Ganie, a resident of Kanthbagh, Baramulla," the police said.
One pistol, one pistol magazine, eight live rounds of nine mm pistol and grenades were recovered from the possession of Lone and two UBGL grenades were recovered from the possession of Ganie.
"They obtained the illegal arms and ammunition to carry out terrorist activities in Baramulla and adjacent areas," the police said.
