J&K: With change in command set-up, HM takes centrestage

After lying low for years, Hizbul Mujahideen is taking centrestage of Kashmir's militant scene replacing Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) as the most formidable militant outfit.  J&K: 5 Hizbul Mujahideen terrorists killed by security forces in Ganderbal  In recent months, it carried out several attacks hinting at increased operational capabilities. J-K Police say all the attacks have been traced to Hizb and they are taking the resurgence seriously and focusing attention on the outfit.

A senior police officer told The Indian Express they are taking Hizb revival seriously. In fact, police top brass discussed resurgence of Hizb and are planning a counter strategy. The resurgence of Hizb started after the outfit made changes to its command structure at Muzaffarabad. Sources say Hizb chief Syed Salah-ud-din looks after militant operations in Kashmir and his deputy Aamir Khan has been replaced by a Pakistani commander, Shamsheer Khan. In the valley, the militant outfit has no operational chief, divisional or district commanders. This, police sources say, is apparently to avoid attention.

Police sources say new educated militant recruits join Hizb and in recent times. If any commander came on police radar, he was immediately recalled to Muzaffarabad. Sources said some years ago, the militant outfit deliberately left space open for Lashkar. They say it is why in the past few years, Hizb didn't take responsibility for attacks by its men. Once a formidable militant outfit with thousands of cadres across Jammu and Kashmir, Hizbul Mujahideen was the first outfit to welcome foreign militants. On Friday, Army had killed five Hizbul militants, all of them foreign, in the Valley.

Source: http://www.indianexpress.com5/