Nine top commanders were among 227 militants killed in Kashmir valley so far this year with November proving to be the bloodiest month.
November has been the bloodiest month of this year with 37 militant killings, reported Hindustan Times.
“Among the militants killed this month, nine were top commanders, including Lashkar-e-Taiba’s face Naveed Jatt, who was shot dead on Wednesday in Budgam district,” said the report.
Quoting official figures, it said 227 militants have been killed in different parts of Kashmir so far this year. Last year, 207 militants were killed in this period.
J&K’s director general of police, Dilbag Singh said the number of militants at present is hovering around 250. “After several successful operations, the graph of militancy, especially in south Kashmir, has come down and fresh recruitment has also declined,” the report quoted Singh as having said.
The report quoting an officer said that now only three to four prominent top commanders are active – Hizbul Mujahideen’s operational commander, Riyaz Naikoo, Al Badr commander, Zeenat-ul Islam who was earlier with Hizbul Mujahideen and now has shifted to Albadr, Lateef Tiger who was an associate of Burhan Wani and Zakir Musa, the chief of Ansar-ul-Gazwat-ul-Hind.