The killing spree by the unidentified gunman continues in north Kashmir as yet again a bullet-riddled body was found in a paddy field at Devbugh village of Kunzar area of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district on Saturday.
Police identified that body as that of Fayaz Ahmad Bhat, resident of Vailoio (Pattan), whom Hizbul Mujahideen owned as its active militant from last six years.
In a telephonic statement to KNS, Hizb operation spokesperson, Burhan-ud-Din said that Bhat was an active militant of the group from last six years and alleged that “he was killed in an ambush by Indian forces”.
However, police said that the Bhat was killed by Hizb’s breakaway faction ‘Lashkar-e- Islam.’
IG Police Kashmir, SJM Gilani told KNS that militants groups are behind the recent killings in Baramulla district. “He was not killed in an ambush but he has been killed in an intra-militant group rivalry,” IGP Kashmir told KNS.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel
Hizb operational spokesperson said that Bhat had carried number of operations in past six years and “was on a special mission last evening when Indian forces killed him in an ambush”. The spokesman added that Hizb deputy supreme commander Saifullah Khalid and divisional commander north Kashmir paid rich tributes to the slain militant.
Family members also refuted the claims of police that slain militant was killed in an intra-group rivalry.
Meanwhile, police had taken the body in its custody and had sent it for post mortem before handing over to the family.
Pertinently, three bullet-riddled bodies of youth were found in an apple orchard in Pattan area of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district last week, whom Hizb had owned its members and had alleged were killed by SOG and ‘enemy’s paid agents in their custody.