Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, Aug 3: The killing of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) Divisional Commander, Abu Hanzala, is a major set back for the LeT as he was the oldest surviving commander of the outfit whose job, of late, was to facilitate infiltration of militants into Kashmir valley through Line of Control (LoC) in North Kashmir.
The General Officer Commanding (GOC) of counter-insurgency Kilo Force, Major General Sarat Chand, today visited Dudipora and described Hanzala’s killing as a major success for the security forces in North Kashmir. He said that security forces were tracking his movement for past 2-3 months.
Giving details of the encounter Brigadier General Staff (BGS) of Srinagar based 15 Corps, Brigadier KJS Dhillon, said that Abu Hanzala was killed in an encounter in Dudipora, Handwara in the frontier district of Kupwara last night. He said that during the encounter granary in which he was hiding caught fire and was damaged.
A police spokesman while giving details said that on specific information regarding movement of LeT commander Abu Hanzala in village Dudipora, Handwara, a joint operation was launched last evening by Handwara Police, 21 RR of Army and 92 battalion of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).
“During the search operation Hanzala fired upon security forces from the granary of Mohammed Ramzan Hajam. The fire was retaliated and during the encounter LeT militant Abu Hanzala was killed”, police added.
However, sources said that Hanzala was injured in an encounter in Kramhora forests of Handwara on April 5 this year in which 5 militants of the LeT were killed. Hanzala was being treated for his wounds since then and he was almost confined to his hideout.. Sources said that he was alone in his hideout at the time of the encounter and was residing here for some time.
Police sources said that Hanzala had infiltrated into Kashmir valley in 2005 and was active in North Kashmir. Before shifting his base to Handwara forests he was operating in Sopore area as well, they added.
Police sources said that Hanzala’s main task for last few years was to facilitate infiltration from across the Line of Control (LoC). He used to receive the newly infiltrated militants, provide them logistics for their movement to rest of the Kashmir valley.
Hanzala had created his hideout in the Handwara forests for past few years now and was confined to them only. He used to coordinate and plan attacks from his forest hideout only, the sources added.
They said that after Hanzala’s injury in April this year, the infiltration attempts of the militants received a major set back. The militant leaders from across the LoC are desperate to send senior commanders, who have already served in Kashmir valley, to replace him.
A Police spokesman said that Hanzala was operating in police district Handwara since 2007 and was most wanted militant in North Kashmir. “He was an IED expert and was involved in facilitating infiltration and providing them logistics. He was also involved in targeting and killing of civilians and security force personnel and was also involved in abetting forest smuggling in Rajwara forest belt of Handwara in nexus with timber smugglers”, police added.
Police said that around half a dozen cases were registered against Hanzala in Police Station Handwara including (FIR No. 241/11 u/s 7/27 Arms Act, case FIR no. 204/11 u/s 302RPC, 7/27 AA, case FIR no. 130/12 u/s 302 RPC, 7/27 AA, case FIR no. 143/12, u/s 307 RPC , 7/27 AA, case FIR no. 74/12 u/s 307 RPC, 7/27 AA, case FIR no. 226/11 u/s 302 RPC, 7/27 AA).
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