Hizb Hindu commander killed

By Iftikhar Gilani

NEW DELHI: Police in Jammu and Kashmir claimed killing five militants including a Hindu area commander of Hizbul Mujahideen in separate incidents on Saturday.

This is the second time in the history of Kashmiri militancy that a Hindu commander has been killed. The area commander, Uttam Singh alias Saifullah, was killed when police guards posted at the residence of a local leader retaliated to a militant attack in Gandoh area of Doda district on Saturday morning, a police spokesman said. An AK-47 assault rifle and two magazines were recovered from him.

Singh had reportedly joined Hizbul Mujahideen in August 2004. He was recently appointed area commander of Gandoh, and was one of seven Hindu militants active in the district.

In March 2003, security forces had claimed killing a Hindu militant, Kuldip Singh alias Akhtar Ansari, in the same district. Kuldip’s elder brother, Baldev Singh, is reported to be sector commander of Hizbul Mujahideen.

Though security forces had arrested Hindus for aiding militants in the past, this was the first time a Hindu was found fighting alongside Kashmiri militants.

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