Hizb Commander among 2 ultras held in J&K

JAMMU: Two Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM) ultras, including a militant wanted in many cases and evading arrest for the last 15 years, finally landed in the police net on Wednesday.

On a tip-off police arrested two Hizb ultras after conducting cordon and search operation in Thanowa area of Udhampur district, a senior police officer said.

They have been identified as 37-year-old Bashir Ahmed Lohar alias Bilal code Rafeeq who is area and launching commander of Hizb for Doda district and believed to be the oldest member of the outfit besides 21 year old Ashiq Husain alias Shameen, he said.

Both of them have been taken to an unknown destination for interrogation, he said.

Rafeeq had joined militancy in 1993 and was involved in dozens of militancy related incidents in Doda district while Shameen, who belongs to Kuchal area of Kishtwar district is his close associate, he said.

The arrests have come close on the heels of arrest of HuJI divisional chief Faizal Sohail and 3 LeT militants, including Pakistan's serving army jawan in Jammu city on December 22.