Srinagar: Twenty-one top militants are now on the “hit list” of armed forces after Islamic State of Jammu and Kashmir (ISJK) chief Dawood Ahmed Salafi and three of his aides were gunned down in a gunfight at Nowshera village in south Kashmir on Friday.
The encounter, considered as a major success by the armed forces, was the first combat operation after the imposition of governor’s rule in J&K.
Establishment sources said major operations were now underway to target 21 most wanted militants, out of which 11 are from Hizbul Mujahideen, seven from Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), two from Jaish-e-Muhammed (JeM) and one from Ansar Ghazwat ul-Hind (AGH).
“The focus of intelligence-gathering and counter-insurgency operations is mainly on these 21 militants, six of whom are placed in the highest category of ‘A++’ based on the number of people they have killed, their control over areas, their propaganda impact and longevity,” said a source.
A list prepared by The Kashmiriyat names 20 out of the 21
Zakir Rashid Bhat Alias Musa, Resident of Tral, Pulwama, Category – A++.
Mohd Ashraf Khan alias Ashraf Moulvi, resident of Kokernag, Islamabad; Category – A+.
Altaf Ahmad Dar alias Altaf Kachroo (division commander in south Kashmir), resident of Hawoora, Kulgam; Category – A++.
Mohd Abbas Sheikh, resident of Quimoh, Kulgam; Category – A+.
Umar Majeed Ganai, resident of Such, Kulgam; Category – A++.
Saifullah Mir (district commander in Pulwama), resident of Malangpur, Pulwama.
Zeenat-ul-Islam, resident of Sugan, Shopian; Category – A++.
Riyaz Ahmad Naikoo (chief operational commander, Kashmir), resident of Tokun, Pulwama; Category – A++.
Latif Ahmad Dar alias Haroon, resident of Dogirpur, Awantipur; Category – A.
Umar Fayaz Lone, resident of Tral, Awantipur; Category – A.
Manan Wani ( AMU research scholar), resident of Kupwara; Category – B.
Abu Muslim, resident of Pakistan, operates in Hajan, Category – Foreign Terrorist / A+.
Abu Zargam alias Mohd Bhai, resident of Pakistan, operates in Hajan, A+.
Azad Ahmad Malik alias Dada (LeT district commander Anantnag), resident of Malikpura, Arwani, Category –A.
Shakoor Ahmad Dar (LeT district commander, Kulgam), resident of Tengpora, Kulgam, Category – A+.
Mohd Naveed Jatt, resident of Pakistan, operates in Pulwama, A+.
Riyaz Ahmad Dar, resident of Sethargun, Pulwama, Category – A.
Mustaq Ahmad Mir, resident of Chak Cholan, Shopian, Category – A++.
Zahid Ahmad Wani, resident of Karimabad, Pulwama.
Mudasir Ahmad Khan, resident of Midur, Awantipur.
