Srinagar: Hizbul Mujahideen chief Riyaz Naikoo has been killed in a gunfight with the government forces in Beighbpora village of Pulwama, South Kashmir.
“Hizbul Mujahideen chief Riyaz Naikoo killed in encounter in South Kashmir,” PTI quoted officials as saying. The government forces “killed the most wanted militant commander, #RiyazNaikoo along with his associate in #Pulwama district,” reported IANS.
Naikoo, a post-graduate, carried a reward of 12 lakh rupees on his head. He had taken over as commander-in-chief of Hizbul Mujahideen after the killing of Burhan Wani in July 2016.
Earlier, Kashmir Police Zone had tweeted: “So far one unidentified terrorist killed. Operation going on.”
After the gunfight ensued, mobile internet services were snapped across Kashmir, while restrictions were imposed in parts.