In Jammu and Kashmir, a self-styled divisional commander of Hizbul Mujahideen was killed along with his bodyguard as security forces foiled an infiltration attempt and a conspiracy by the proscribed outfit to revive its activities in frontier Poonch district early on Monday (07 August 2023). AIR correspondent reports that the body of Hizb commander Muneser Hussain was retrieved, while his bodyguard’s body was still lying near the Line of Control in Degwar sector of Poonch district.
In the wee hours on Monday (07 August 2023), the army troops guarding the LOC in the Degwar sector of Poonch noticed the movement of some terrorists attempting to sneak into this side under the cover of darkness in the early hours and engaged them in an encounter.
Two infiltrating terrorists were engaged by the joint team of Army and police in Garhi Battalion area around 2 AM. One terrorist fell immediately while the second tried to run back to LoC. He was engaged and hit and was seen falling down on the ground. The body of one of the slain terrorists was retrieved and has been identified on the basis of police records as Hussain – a resident of Bagyladra village of Poonch who was a self-style Divisional Commander of Hizbul Mujahideen. Hussain was a close associate of Maulana Dawood Kashmiri, a close associate of PoK-based Hizbul supremo Syed Salauddin. Hussain along with his bodyguard was believed to have been sent with the agenda of reviving terrorism in south of Pir-Panjal. PRO defence Lt. Colonel Suneel Bartwal said Hussain is the most dreaded terrorist killed in the last 10 years in Rajouri and Poonch belt. His killing makes it evident that Pakistan is trying to send old terror veterans to motivate and recruit youth, thus making desperate attempts to revive terrorism. However, a 22 year old Pakistani intruder was arrested along the LOC in Poonch district today. Abu Wahab Ali, a resident of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), was taken into custody by a joint party of the Army and police from Dabi-Basuni village in the Balakote sector of Poonch district on Monday (07 August 2023).
