Top Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Riyaz Naikoo killed during encounter

J&K Police Officer Imtiyaz Hussain tweeted: "Riyaz Naikoo wanted by law in crimes against humanity finally taken down by Security Forces. As always a never dying sprit, resolute & single minded devotion of J&K Police at the forefront of this ugly proxy war has been the key. God bless @JmuKmrPolice." 

Former DGP of J&K  SP Vaid tweeted: "Elimination of top Hizbul Mujahideen Commander #RiyazNaikoo in a joint operation is a big success for J&K Police and Security Forces. He was responsible for kidnapping and killing of multiple policemen. Well done boys! #JaiHind."
 

Riyaz Naikoo, who was leading the banned Hizbul Mujahideen in Kashmir valley, was trapped in a joint operation launched by security forces in Beighbora village of Pulwama district earlier in the day, reported Hindustan Times.

Naikoo was reportedly on the run for eight years.

Naikoo is learnt to be close to the Pakistan-based Hizbul chief, Syed Salahuddin, who was declared a global terrorist by the US in 2017, reported Hindustan Times.

After Burhan Wani was gunned down in 2016, Naikoo had taken over as the chief of the terror group.

The tech-savvy Naikoo, who used to give private tuitions to school children before joining Hizbul Mujahideen, had played a crucial role in holding the terror group’s hold in the valley after the group’s Zakir Musa split the outfit in 2017 to form his own group Ansar Ghazwatul Hind, reported the Indian newspaper.