SRINAGAR, India - Police in Indian Kashmir said Thursday they had arrested the chief spokesman of Islamic militant group Hizbul Mujahedin in the summer capital of the disputed Himalayan region. “Junaid-ul-Islam, the chief spokesman for Hizbul Mujahedin, was arrested from a hide-out in Srinagar in the early hours today,” said B. Srinivas, deputy inspector general of police. “He was active since 1990 and his arrest is a big success for police,” said Srinivas, adding the suspect had been pulled in on information provided by three recently arrested Hizbul members.Islam’s real name was Abdul Khaliq Dar, police said, adding that he used two more alias names—Khalil-ur-Rehman and Fazal-ul-Rehman. “He was involved in planning (attacks) and was one of the top Hizbul leaders wanted by the police,” Srinivas said. “He was dealing with press and was part of Hizbul’s propaganda cell.”
Hizbul Mujahedin, which has been active in Indian Kashmir for two decades, is a hardline group fighting for the Indian part of the Himalayan region to be folded into Pakistan. The arrest deals a fresh blow to the pro-Pakistan group. On Tuesday, two of its top commanders were killed during a gun battle and four key members were arrested. Last month, Indian security forces said they shot dead three top Hizbul Mujahedin commanders and arrested a leading rebel allegedly involved in nearly 30 killings.