SRINAGAR: Indian government forces martyred the leader of held Kashmir’slargest militant group on Sunday, authorities said.
Hizbul Mujahideen leader Saifullah Mir — also known as Musaib and DoctorSaif, as he treated militants injured in encounters with Indian forces —was martyred in a gunbattle in the Rangreth area of Srinagar near the mainairport, police said.
One of his associates was captured alive, they added.
Anti-India groups have been fighting for decades for held Kashmir’sindependence or its merger with Pakistan, and enjoy broad popular support.
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The fighting has left tens of thousands dead, mostly civilians, since 1989.
“The militant killed in the gunfight is Hizbul Mujahideen’s chiefoperational commander Dr Saifullah,” Vijay Kumar, inspector general ofpolice in held Kashmir, told reporters at the site of the encounter.
