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Kashmir militant commander killed
Saif-ul-Islam, chief commander of the Pakistan-based Hizbul Mujahideen was killed on Wednesday in a gun-battle between militants and Indian forces, according to police. The BBC's Altaf Hussain in Srinagar says the killing of Saif-ul-Islam is one of the worst setbacks for the militant group.
Definite cause for ululation...
Saif-ul-Islam had been arrested hours earlier and was escorting the troops to recover hidden arms. He led the security forces to a hideout near, Srinagar, the capital of Indian-administered Kashmir when they came under attack from militants. "The militants fired and in the ensuing battle Ghulam Hasan Khan alias Saif-ul-Islam was killed," Deputy Inspector General of India's Border Security Force, K Srinivasan, told Reuters.
I think when the Indian medias talk about 'encounters' they mean things like top terrorists being killed in convenient circumstances hours only after their capture, although it does save on trial costs.
A spokesman for the Hizbul Mujahideen in Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistan-administered Kashmir, confirmed the death of their commander. He was the second in command to Hizbul chief Syed Salahuddin and his death is being seen as a serious blow for the organisation.
The Hezb is the only major Jihadi group operating in Kashmir that is actually made up mostly of Kashmiris instead of Pakistani and Afghan mercenaries, and it has been taking quite a lot of hits lately
Saif-ul-Islam had taken over as the commander of the group's Indian operations and had replaced Abdul Majid Dar who was expelled from the group last year.
And was bumped off a few days ago...

Posted by: Paul Moloney 2003-04-03
http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=12387