In a major breakthrough, the security forces on Wednesday killed the most wanted and Pakistan-supported Hizb-ul-Mujahideen’s top terrorist Riyaz Naikoo along with his associate in an encounter in Beighpora village of Awantipora in Jammu and Kashmir.
With this, the security forces also avenged the deaths of five security men killed in Kupwara district on May 3.
Naikoo, Kashmir`s most wanted terrorist and Hizbul chief was trapped late on Tuesday in his native Beighpora village in Jammu and Kashmir`s Pulwama district.
The Hizbul Mujahideen commander and his associate were killed early on Wednesday while another terrorist was killed in a separate operation in Sharshali village of Khrew area in Pulwama district away from Naikoo`s encounter spot.
Two terrorists, a Pakistan national and a local terrorist were also killed in the encounter in Chanjimulla village of Handwara tehsil on May 3 along with bravehearts.
Officials said the operation to eliminate Naikoo was carried out with pinpoint precision without any collateral damage. Authorities had suspended mobile Internet across the Kashmir Valley and imposed curfew in most major towns of the valley to ensure that no ugly fallout of Naikoo`s death affects the law and order.
A video conferencing meeting was reportedly held earlier between senior officers of the Union Home Ministry and J&K top brass to address any law and order issues peacefully.
In Srinagar city, the District Magistrate announced that all curfew passes issued on or before May 5 have been cancelled and fresh passes would be issued after two days.
Authorities do not want to take any chance after killing the most wanted militant commander who happened to be a Kashmiri.
No chances are being taken with the law and order situation since in a similar situation in July 2016 when Naikoo`s predecessor and Hizbul poster boy chief commander, Burhan Wani was killed.