Hizbul poster boy Burhan Wani shot dead, Valley on the boil

Burhan Muzzafar Wani

Srinagar: In a big blow to militancy in Jammu and Kashmir, Hizbul Mujahideen's poster boy Burhan Muzzafar Wani (21) was shot dead by security forces alongwith two of his accomplices in Kokernag yesterday.

Burhan Muzzafar Wani

The killing of Burhan, son of a headmaster and a school dropout, was described by Director General of J and K Police K Rajendra as a major success for the security forces because he was allegedly instrumental in brainwashing many local boys to take up the gun.

‘Yes', was his cryptic reply to a question whether Burhan was killed in an encounter with security personnel.

Immediately after the news of Burhan's death spread, pro-Pakistan slogans were heard in downtown Srinagar with people coming out on the roads and burning tyres.

Curfew-like restrictions were imposed in the area tonight.

Giving details, highly placed sources in the state government said the encounter followed pinpointed information received about the presence of three highly trained terrorists in Bumdoora village at Kokernag in South Kashmir. The identity of the third militant was yet to be established.

A resident of Tral, on the outskirts of Srinagar city, Burhan carried a cash reward of Rs 10 lakh on his head while Sartaz, who was a re-cycled terrorist, was involved in many terror-related incidents.

Burhan is believed to have taken to the gun to avenge his elder brother's humiliation by the security forces who made him do squats after picking him up apparently without any basis.