November 30
Zeenat-ul-Islam, Zakir Musa and Riyaz Naikoo – The three A-Grade Militants are in the hit-list of the Indian Army after killing 233 militants in Kashmir this year – the highest so far.
The biggest militant to have been killed previously was Lashkar-e-Taiba commander Naveed Jatt. Now the Government forces are working towards killing the remaining top militant leaders – Zeenat-ul-Islam, Zakir Musa and Riyaz Naikoo.
The forces are expecting more action in the coming days, having received inputs on most of the militants being concentrated at specific locations in south and central Kashmir, These militants could include the three top leaders who are the prime targets.
The three are locals of Kashmir and have been categorized by the forces as ‘A++’ Militants.
“There are inputs that most of the Militants are concentrated in five locations. These are Shopian, Islamabad (Anantnag), Budgam, Kulgam and Srinagar,” said an official.
Zakir Rashid Bhat alias Zakir Musa, who is the chief commander of Al Qaeda affiliate Ansar Ghazwat ul Hind, is the top commander wanted by the Government forces.
Hailing from Noorpora Tral, Zakir Musa was a top aide of Burhan Wani before he switched sides and brought Al Qaeda to Kashmir. Musa, an engineering student, joined Militant ranks in 2013 and is considered an A++ category Militant.
Zeenat-ul-Islam, considered an IED expert, has been hopping from one terror outfit to another since he took up arms in November 2015. A resident of Sugan Zainpora village of south Kashmir’s Shopian district, he recently released his audio message announcing that he has joined Al Badr.
Riyaz Naikoo joined Hizbul in December 2012 after quitting his job as school teacher. An A++ category Militant, he rose to the rank of chief operations commander.