Riyaz Naikoo, most wanted rebel from Kashmir

The abduction and release of family members of the Jammu and Kashmir policemen has brought the spotlight back on Riyaz Ahmed Naikoo, the most wanted militant in the Valley at the moment. Naikoo, 30, started figuring prominently on the radar of security agencies after the killing of militant poster boy Burhan Wani in 2016. He carries a reward of Rs 12 lakh on his head. A resident of Naikoo Mohalla in Durbug of Awantipora , Naikoo has been listed as a category “A++” militant, which is given to the most-wanted…

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Fear spreads as families of JK cops turn collateral – ‘It is an open war on Police’

Alarm and despair spread among the Jammu and Kashmir policemen and their families after a series of abductions of relatives of policemen in south Kashmir by suspected militants on Thursday night. The abductions were triggered apparently in response to the police detaining for questioning the family members of some Hizbul Mujahideen militants including those of operational commander Riyaz Naikoo on Wednesday night. A couple of families of militants in Shopian alleged that their houses were ransacked and set ablaze allegedly by security forces on Wednesday night hours after four policemen…

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Municipal elections in 4 phases from Oct 1, Panchayat polls in 8 Phases from Nov 8

The state administration on Friday announced the dates for the municipal and panchayat elections. The State Administrative Council (SAC) led by Governor Satya Pal Malik on Friday decided to commence the process for conducting the municipal body and panchayat elections in the state. After extensive deliberations on various aspects and feedback received from the departments of housing and urban development, rural development and panchayati raj and home, the SAC decided that the elections to the panchayat elections will be conducted in eight phases between November 8 and December 4 this…

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Don’t harass our families, Riyaz Naikoo warns Kashmir Policemen

Hizbul Mujahideen operations commander Riyaz Ahmad Naikoo on Friday issued a new audio serving a strong warning to the Kashmir policemen to stop harassment of militant families and common masses. “Kashmir police remains always at the forefront. They raid our houses, beat our families and slap PSA on innocent youth for rewards and promotions. You must stop these acts or else we will not spare you,” Naikoo is heard saying in the audio message released on social media. “If you involve our families, you too will be made to pay…

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Zakir Moosa, Riyaz Naikoo on new list of most wanted militants across Kashmir

Security forces in Jammu and Kashmir have released a list of most-wanted terrorists active in the state. Sources say this is part of a larger strategy of the security forces to act against terror outfits. They say this is an extension of the ‘Operation All Out’ under which a number of top terrorists, including Burhan Wani, were killed in the past two years. The list comprise names of 17 terrorists from Hizbul Mujahideen, Lashkar-e-Toiba, Al Badar, Jaish-e-Mohammad and Ansar Gazwat-ul-Hind. The list includes terrorists like Zakir Moosa (who is categorised…

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Abducted kin of Kashmir policemen released

Militants have released the relatives of policemen whom they had abducted from various places in south Kashmir, official sources said on Friday. At least eight people, whose relatives were working in the Jammu and Kashmir Police, were abducted last night by militants. The sources said all those abducted had been released. However, a senior police official said they had to check whether those abducted had returned home. Unconfirmed reports said the total number of kidnapped kin of policemen was 11. Former Jammu and Kashmir chief ministers Mehbooba Mufti and Omar…

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