Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin on Sunday expressed deep grief over the killing of five militants saying “every drop of their pious blood will give rise to thousands of such mujahideen”.Five militants including top Hizbul Mujahideen commander Sadam Padder, Kashmir University assistant professor Dr Mohammad Rafi Bhat, Bilal Ahmad, Adil Malik and Tauseef Ahmad were killed in an encounter that broke out in Badigam village of south Kashmir’s Shopian district on early Sunday.A Hizb statement issued to GNS said that Syed Salahuddin, who is also the chief of the United Jihad Council (UJC) – a conglomerate of various Kashmiri militant organizations –made these remarks while chairing a Command Council meeting of the Hizbul Mujahideen. He paid tributes to the slain Hizb men.Syed Salahuddin said the Kashmir University Assistant Professor Dr Mohammad Rafi Bhat joined the Hizb ranks only a day ago. “He (Dr Rafi) proved it that one day of freedom is better than 100 years of slavery,” he said.Hizb chief added, “In their love for freedom of Kashmir, the mujahideen don’t care about the network of informers spread by Indian forces across the State. The conscience of these informers is dead and the need of the hour is to remain vigilant of such merchants of faith. The use of cell phone also proves detrimental for mujahideen.”“During the meeting, it was impressed upon the mujahideen to remain vigilant of the machinations of the enemy and its paid agents,” the statement said.Syed Salahuddin also hailed the “courage and valour” of the people of Kashmir and said, “It is impossible to defeat the nation where people from every section of life take recourse to resistance.” (GNS)