Srinagar: Hizbul Mujahideen on Monday announced that Muhammad Bin Qasim will be its new Field Operational Commander following the killing of its former commander Yasin Yatoo alias Mehmood Ghaznawi by the Indian Armed forces in Shopian gunfight on Sunday.
“Muhammad Bin Qasim is the new Field Operational Commander and it was decided by Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Sallahudin in a Command Council Meeting,” Hizb spokesman, Saleem Hashmi said in an emailed statement.
The spokesman said that the council paid tributes to the slain militants, Yasin Yatoo alias Mehmood Ghaznawi, Engineer Irfan, and Umer Majeed.
“Their martyrdom is extremely painful, but their blood will give further impetus to the Kashmir struggle,” the spokesman quoted Salahudin as saying.
Quoting the chief, the spokesman said, “Time proved that thousands of Burhan’s supporters came forward, when the Indian government had thought that the Kashmir struggle will get weakened by Burhan’s killing. Martyrdom of Ghaznawi and his companions has the same message.”
The Hizb chief said “with the support of pro-freedom people and Mujahideen, the struggle in Kashmir will continue with full vigour, while warning that “traitors who are playing a big role in killing of militants of a bitter end.”
(With inputs from KNS)
