*SRINAGAR – *Mohammad Rafi Bhat, the assistant professor at KashmirUniversity was martyred along with a top Hizbul commander, once consideredclose to Burhan Wani, by security forces in Jammu and Kashmir’s Shopiantoday morning.

Bhat, a resident of Chundina in Ganderbal district, 20 kilometres fromSrinagar, taught Sociology at Kashmir University.

His family on Saturday had told the police that he became untraceable since3:30 pm on Friday. Bhat’s mother said she spoke with him last on Friday andhe gave no hints to take up arms.

Protests soon broke out on the university campus, with students allegingthat there could be foul play over his disappearance. The university’svice-chancellor immediately met with the protesting students and assuredthem of tracing the missing professor in no time, and also sought the helpof the Director General of Police.

Today morning, the students found out where the professor had gone – he wasamong the four Hizbul Mujahideen shot dead by security forces during anencounter at Badigam village in south Kashmir’s Shopian district.

[image: kashmir afp]

Mohammad Rafi Bhat went missing from his house on Friday (AFP)Several youth in Kashmir after Burhan Wani was killed in July 2016 have hada short stint — some of have been killed within a fortnight of joining themilitants groups, people familiar with the matter said.

As soldiers of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and the armysurrounded the village where the Hizbul Mujahideen militants were hiding.

Mr Bhat was reportedly meeting Hizbul commander, Saddam Padder, whensecurity forces launched the operation. The assistant professor hadreportedly joined the militants group a few years ago, people familiar withthe matter told NDTV.