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Top Hizb militant, two aides held in north Kashmir
Majid Jahangir/TNS

Srinagar, September 4
Security forces in Kashmir today arrested the longest surviving militant commander of the Hizbul Mujahideen along with his two associates from north Kashmir's Bandipore district.

The 36-year-old A++ category militant, Talib Hussain Lali, was carrying a reward of Rs 10 lakh on his head. He was arrested in Bazipora Ajas, 45 km from here, in a joint operation by the J&K Police and the Army.

Lali is also wanted by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) which has been investigating the funding pattern of Kashmiri separatist groups.

Deputy Inspector General, north Kashmir, J P Singh said that Lali was arrested along with two of his overground workers (OGWs) on Wednesday. “After information was received about his presence in the area, he was captured along with two of his associates,” Singh told The Tribune.

Police sources in north Kashmir said Lali, a Gujjar, was active for the last 18 years and was the longest surviving militant commander in the Valley.

“A joint operation was launched by the 13 Rashtriya Rifles and the Bandipore Police in Bazipora forests. A brief exchange of fire took place around 11 am in the area and Lali dropped his weapon and ran to hide along with two OGWs. He was later caught,” a police source said.

The OGWs were identified as Abdul Rashid Lali and Showkat Ahmed.

Another police officer said Lali, a locally trained militant, was among the longest surviving guerrillas of the Hizbul Mujahideen.

“Lali was an associate of Shafi Shah, alias Dr Dawood, the divisional commander of the Hizbul who was arrested in 2009,” the officer said.

Rs 10 lakh bounty on his head

• Talib Hussain Lali (pic) was an A++ category militant
• He was carrying a reward of `10 lakh on his head.
• He was active for the past 18 years and was the longest surviving militant commander in the Valley
• Was also wanted by National Investigation Agency which has been investigating the funding of Kashmiri separatist groups