The security forces on Friday shot the most-wanted Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Muzzaffar Wani in a brief encounter in south Kashmir’s Kokernag area along with his two associates, including a suspected Pakistani. The 22-year-old Wani, a resident of south Kashmir’s Tral area, was the most popular face of Kashmir’s insurgency who used internet and social media to popularise anti-India insurgency in Kashmir. He was carrying a cash reward of `10 lakh on his head.
Shortly after the news about Burhan’s killing spread, thousands of people came out in various parts of south Kashmir to hold protests. Senior separatist leader Syed Ali Geelani called for shutdown on Saturday and asked people to march towards Tral to participate in the funeral prayers of the slain militant leader.
Burhan Wani had joined militant ranks in 2010, a few days before he was scheduled to appear in the matriculation examination. Son of a secondary school principal, Burhan was allegedly humiliated by a party of security forces that led him to join the militants.
last year, he released a series of videos and pictures along with his colleagues donning Army fatigues. The videos and pictures became an instant hit and several youngsters expressed desire to join his ranks. The youngsters in Kashmir were circulating the video clips and pictures to exhibit their support to Wani.
He released another video on June 7 in which he welcomed return of Kashmiri Pandits and vowed not to harm Amarnath pilgrims. However, he warned against setting up excusive Pandit colonies and colonies for former soldiers.
There was no word from the officials on the “encounter” except the confirmation on Burhan’s killing till late in the evening. Sources said the General officer Commanding of Victor Force would brief media about the operation on Saturday.
Sources said that anti-insurgency wing of Kashmir police and the Army were carrying a secret operation in Kokernag area since Thursday. They said that Burhan and his associates were killed in an encounter that started around 6 pm and continued for about three hours.
The other two slain militants have been identified as Sartaj Ahmad Sheikh, a resident of Pirtakiya, Kokernag and Waleed, a suspected Pakistani militant.
Burhan’s brother Khalid Muzaffar Wani was killed by security forces in April 2015 when he had gone to meet his brother in Buchoo forests of Tral area. While his relatives alleged that Khalid was killed in custody, the officials maintained that he had links with militants and died in a
cross-fire.
Former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah described Burhan’s death as “big news” that will also mean some tense days in parts of the valley.
“Alas Burhan isn’t the 1st to pick up the gun & won’t be the last. @JKNC_ has always maintained that a political problem needs pol. Solution,” Omar Abdullah tweeted.
“For all Burhan’s social media activity I don’t recall any militancy incident attributed to him while I was in office. Not sure after that,” he said.