New Hizb commander

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD, JULY 31. The Hizb-ul Mujahideen has appointed Moeenul Islam, senior activist, as deputy operational commander in Kashmir in place of Abdul Hamid `Masood' Tantray who was reportedly killed in an encounter in Kashmir.

The decision was taken on Tuesday by the Hizb council at a meeting chaired by its chief, Syed Salahuddin, in Muzaffarabad, capital of the Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir, a statement said.

The Hizb last week alleged that Tantray was ``killed in a fake encounter''. India has denied the charge.

A Hizb spokesman said the meeting was called to review the situation following the Agra summit. ``India is mistaken if it thinks it can contain the freedom struggle by killing Tantray and other freedom-fighters,'' the statement said.

Islam is a senior commander who had been associated with the separatist movement since it started in 1989.

By making a public announcement on Islam's appointment, the outfit is making it clear that there is no truth in the speculations in a section of the media that there is a division in its ranks.

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Section  : International
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