Srinagar:Jammu and Kashmir Police issued the statement on South Kashmir encounters saying on specific inputs two cordon and search operations were launched by J&K Police and Security Forces at Sarshali and Beighpora in Awantipora.

Police in the statement said that these cordon and search operations led to encounters as the hiding militants opened fire upon the operation parties. According to police in these encounters four militants were killed.

“In Sharshali encounter 02 militants of LeT were killed, police statement reads.

“The identification of killed militants is being ascertained. Incriminating material including arms and ammunition were recovered from the site of encounter”, Statement reads.

The Police said that, “In the second operation in Beighpora village of Awantipora, a top militant commander was trapped along with his associate. The operation was launched last evening and contact was established with hiding militants in the morning today.”

The police said in these encounter two militants were killed. “One of the militants has been identified as Riyaz Naikoo, who was the Chief operational Commander of (HM) outfit in Kashmir.”

Police said that Riyaz Naikoo joined militant ranks of HM outfit in May 2012 and was a close associate of Burhan Wani. After Zakir Musa’s defection from HM to form his own Outfit called Ansar Gazwat ul Hind, he took command of HM outfit in Jammu Kashmir. Pertinent to mention that Zakir Musa was killed in an operation last year.

“Naikoo had been continuously making audio and video clips and putting up on social media to motivate youth to join militancy and went on recruiting new boys. He was responsible for a large number of innocent youths getting into militant ranks and indulging in serious violence against local population and Security Forces,” said police.

“He was a masterminded behind the revival of HM outfit in Jammu and Kashmir. He also released videos / audios on number of occasions carrying Pro-Pakistan and separatist propaganda,” police said.

“He executed a series of attacks on policemen, SF and civilians. He resorted to brutal killings of civilians   branding them as police/SF informers,” police added.

The police also said that he also looted orchard owners and farmers to collect funds for his outfit.

“He also has been collecting booty from illicit cultivation of opium and bhang in South Kashmir. His outfit also figured in narco trade case in Jammu where a huge sum of sale proceeds was transferred to one of his contacts. Some of the Killings/ violence where he was directly involved were –

1) Killing of Haji Ghulam Mohd Dar Father of a Sarpanch at Dogripora 0n 8-3-2014
2) Firing on Police Bus near Bhatpora Tokena
3) Killing of Gh Mohi-Ud-din Dar 
4) Killing of Javaid Akbar Khanday R/o Khandaypora
5) Killing of a Police HC Ashiq Hussain Mir at Padgampoara crossing. 
6) Kidnapping of Constable Naseer Ahmad 7) looting of 09 weapons from the residence of ex MLA Wachi.          
8) Killing of six migrant labour in kulgam
 9) Killing of truck drivers and fruit traders post Aug 5. 
10) Release of an audio tape threatening attacks on the Jail staff after preferential treatment being provided to militants and the separatists lodged in various jails was discontinued,” police said.

“Apart from the above he was involved in many other cases of heinous crime for which a big number of FIRs were registered against him,” police in the statement said.