JJ CORRESPONDENT
Kishtwar, June 5: Hizbul Mujahideen received a major jolt when security forces today arrested one of their terror guide from Kishtwar heights.
The arrested accused has been identified as Talib Hussain Gujjar, a resident of Rashgwari Padyarna village in the Kishtwar district.
Following specific information, a joint operation group of 17 Rashtriya Rifles and Jammu and Kashmir Police raided a terror hideout in Kishtwar heights and nabbed Talib Gujjar
Talib Gujjar often used to change his appearance and identity to checkmate security agencies.
With the change in the area of operation, he also used to change his name so that no one gets an inkling about his terror activities.
As per the details available, lately, the Pakistan-backed terror outfit, Hizbul Mujahideen, had started regrouping and strengthening its cadre by making fresh recruitment in this mountainous belt.
Talib Gujjar being well versed with the topography of the Kishtwar and Doda belt had been assigned a special task by his handlers in Pakistan to carve safe hideouts and recruit young boys to revive terror-related activities in the hinterland.
It was in the year 2016, that Talib Gujjar mysteriously disappeared. A few months later police came to know that he had joined terror rank. Since then security forces were after him. But every time he used to give them slip by changing his appearance.
Father of five children, Talib Gujjar after joining HM was often seen roaming with weapons in the upper reaches of the Marwah and Dachhan areas of Kishtwar district along with a few other terrorists active in the area.
On several occasions, his family members approached senior police officers in the district and sought their help in convincing Talib Gujjar to shun the path of gun violence and return to the mainstream.
After declaring Talib Gujjar an active terrorist, the security agencies started keeping an eye on his movements.
Finally, after five years, security forces succeeded in arresting him from Kishtwar.
Kishtwar is the only district in Jammu province where one can see footprints of Hizbul terrorists.
One of the longest surviving Hizbul commanders, Mohammad Amin Butt alias Jehangir Saroori operates from this belt only. He carries a bounty of Rs 50 lakhs on his head.
Talib Gujjar according to the sources belongs to a local Gujjar tribe that is familiar with the hilly routes in Nagsini, Marwah, Dachhan and the adjoining Padder area of Kishtwar district. Heat is why he was working as a terror guide for Hizbul operatives, who were trying to achieve a foothold in many of these areas.
