Director General of Police Dilbagh Singh said that three militants of Ansaar Gazwat-ul-Hind were killed in an encounter at Rajpora in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district and the slain includes Hameed Lelhari, who had taken over the command of outfit after Zakir Moosa’s killing. He said with the killing of Lelhari and his two aides, AGW stands wiped out from Kashmir though some over ground workers (OGW) owing allegiance to the outfit may take over again as the outfit’s chief.According to wire service—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), addressing press conference at Police Control Room here, the Jammu and Kashmir police chief said that in an overnight gunfight at Rajpora, Pulwama three militants were killed. “Earlier, two seemed to be foreigners but they were identified as locals. So all three were locals. One of the slain was identified as Hameed Lelhari, the Chief of Ansaar Gazwatul Hind (AGH), another Junaid and third one Naveed,” the DGP said.He said that so far AGH has been wiped out from Kashmir as Lelhari was chief of AGW. “He had taken over after the killing of Zakir Moosa. So as of now, there is no active member from AGW but there may be some OGW who may take over the outfit again,” said the J&K police chief.He said that the trio were involved in a series of militant attacks in South Kashmir. “When Zakir Moosa was killed, there was no active member of AGH but Lelhari motivated some youth to join the group again,” the DGP said.
The DGP, according to the KNO Correspondent, present in the meeting said that that post August 5, there were reports of mass militant recruitment, but nothing of that sort happened. “Some five to six youth are missing and there is no report whether they have joined militancy or are simply away from homes,” he said.He urged local boys to return and join the mainstream. “Gun leads to destruction and damage of human lives and is no solution to anything,” he said. The DGP said that new strategy of militants is to work together as Jaish, Lashkar, Hizb are working in a joint manner. “We are keeping a close watch on this,” the DGP said.On whether mobile phone service would be snapped again, he said no such decision is before the police or government. He, however, played safe that such decisions are taken keeping in view the situation. He urged students to opt for exams and not to waste their precious year. “We will create a secure atmosphere for students so that they attend the exams without any risk or tension,” DGP said. (KNO)