Srinagar, Nov 01 (KNS): Inspector General of Police Kashmir range Vijay Kumar confirmed the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen’s chief operational commander for the valley Dr Saifullah in Rangreth area of Srinagar outskirts. A suspect who has also been arrested is being questioned.

Speaking to reporters at the encounter site, the IGP Kumar said that on the basis of a specific lead, joint teams of police and CRPF laid a cordon at Rangreth area and later army also joined in the operation.
“I am 95 per cent sure that the militant killed in the gunfight is Hizb chief operational commander Dr Saifullah who had taken over the reins of Hizb after the killing of its chief Reyaz Naikoo in an encounter in May this year,” the IGP said as per KNS correspondent.

He added a suspect and not the militant has been arrested at the encounter site who is being questioned.
“The encounter is almost over. We are sanitizing the area and clearing it as there may be some leftover grenades etc,” he said.
On being asked how big an achievement is the killing of Dr Saifullah for security forces, he said: “It’s a big success as he was the chief of Hizbul Mujahideen outfit. He had taken over the control of the outfit after the killing of Reyaz Naikoo. So it’s really a very big achievement.”(KNS)