Army releases list of 12 top Kashmir terrorists

The Indian Army has released a list of the 12 most-wanted terrorists active in Jammu and Kashmir. The list includes top Lashkar-e-Taiba (LET) and Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) Commanders. The list has been released at a time when the state is witnessing protests following the death of Hizbul militant Sabzar Ahmad Bhat in the Tral area of Pulwama district. Bhat, who took over from former Hizbul commander Burhan Wani, was killed by the Army and CRPF as part of a cordon and search operation following news of militants hiding in the area.

The list figures the prominent names like Lashkar-e-Taiba's (LeT) Abu Dujana, Hizbul Mujahideen's Riyaz Naikoo alias Zubair and Zakir Rashid Bhat alias Zakir Musa.

Naikoo is reportedly the next Hizbul commander in Kashmir after the death of Sabzar. Sabzar, who was killed in an encounter on Saturday, was the successor of Burhan Wani.

Like Burhan Wani, Naikoo too is active on social media and is considered a moderate among the hardline Hizbul terrorists. Naikoo, unlike Musa, favours a secular movement in the Kashmir valley.

Earlier on Thursday, Army Chief General Bipin Rawat visited Srinagar to review the situation and operation preparedness in the state and along the Line of Control (LoC). "Gen Rawat and some senior Army officers arrived at Badamibagh Cantonment area on Thursday morning for a routine day-long visit," an Army official said.