Union Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi on Tuesday termed Syed Salahuddin, the Hizbul Mujahideen chief, a “coward” who had “run away” to Pakistan and said the US Government’s decision to declare him a global terrorist would help in choking his movements and financing.
“What the US did is correct. He (Salahuddin) is a terrorist and he has now been declared so. This declaration by the US may probably help in impacting his movements and funding,” Mehrishi told reporters on the sidelines of an event of border guarding force ITBP.
US on Monday categorized Salahuddin a specially designated global terrorist. As a consequence of this designation, US citizens are prohibited from engaging in transactions with Salahuddin. All of Salahuddin’s property and interests in property subject to US jurisdiction are also blocked.
Earlier in the day, Mehrishi welcomed the expedition team of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police force that he said had successfully climbed Mount Dhaulagiri, an 8,167-metre peak located in Nepal. It is also the seventh highest peak in the world. The home secretary had flagged off the team for the expedition on March 10 from here.
He praised the “bravery” of two jawans, head constable Narender Singh and constable Biman Biswas, of the 25- member team for “bravely saving and rescuing” their sick colleague when they were close to the summit. “However, the two jawans lost something of their own,” Mehrishi said, referring to their injuries. The two men suffered severe frost bite injuries and damage to their fingers while attempting to rescue their colleague Krishna P Gurung.