HM Div Commander/most dreaded terrorist killed in the last 10 years: Army
Shyam Sood
Rajouri, August 7: In another major achievement, the Indian Army and SOG of J&K Police eliminated a dreaded terrorist and Division Commander of Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) outfit in a foiled infiltration bid along the Line of Control (LoC) in the Degwar-Malti area of the Poonch sector during the intervening night of August 6 & 7.
Army said that the complete operation was based on the intelligence of J&K Police about the likelihood of an infiltration attempt duly corroborated by Military and Civil Intelligence agencies.
After specific intelligence inputs the Indian Army troops along with the Special Operations Group (SOG) of J&K Police had put in place multiple ambushes along the LoC in Poonch Sector.
“At about 2 am the Indian Army troops deployed on the LoC observed a suspicious movement of two persons trying to sneak across the LoC & the movement of the infiltrating group kept under continuous observation through ‘new generation electro-optical devices’” said Army.
“As both the infiltrators moved towards this side of the LoC, the ambushes challenged the infiltrators. On being challenged, the infiltrators opened fire on the Indian troops. In the ensuing firefight. one terrorist was killed and another injured who managed to flee into the forest taking advantage of thick foliage, rain & rocky outcrop” Army added.
PRO Defence Jammu, Lt Col Suneel Bartwal said: “During a search of the area after first light on Monday body of the slain terrorist was recovered identified as Muneer Hussain, s/o Sattar Mohammad resident of Bagyal Dara, Poonch,”.
The search operations led to the recovery of one AK 56, one 9 mm Pistol with a silencer, one magazine of AK 56, 10 rounds of 7.62 mm, Nine rounds of 9 mm, two hand grenades, eatables, and medicines. “Recovery of Pistol with silencer indicates that Muneer Hussain was likely to be quite high in the Tanzeem Hierarchy,” said Army
The slain terrorist Muneer Hussain is a senior leader of the HM outfit and the most dreaded terrorist killed in the last 10 years.
According to police records, Muneer went to PoK in 1993, came back in 1996, and returned to PoK in 1998.
He has masterminded a number of attacks on SFs. He was a close associate of Moulana Dawood Kashmir of TuJ who is a close associate of Syed Salauddin.
Muneer recently attended a high-level meeting of HM Group in Islamabad (Pakistan) for which the agenda was a revival of HM in Poonch & Rajouri.
“From this, we can make out that Muneer along with his bodyguard (injured in the operation) was sent with the agenda of reviving HM in Rajouri-Poonch & South of Pir Panjal (SPPR). He was given a larger leadership role of HM & told to revive terrorism SPPR,” said PRO Defence, Lt Col Suneel Bartwal.
It is evident that Pakistan is trying to send old terror veterans to J&K to motivate & recruit youth thus making desperate attempts to revive terrorism, he added.
The operation has once again proven the existing synergy between all security agencies operating in this area and highlights the close coordination between them.
The Indian Army assured the people of the region that it always remains alert on the LoC & is fully prepared to thwart any such attempts in the future too.
On Sunday GOC Romeo Force in a press briefing at Rajouri said: “The synergy between SFs, police & people yielding positive results. Make in India sensitive & modern gadgets/equipment & firearms helping in achieving desired targets”.
