Hizbul Mujahideen’s Poster Boy Burhan Wani Killed in An Encounter

Burhan joined the Hizbul Muhahideen in 2010. He went on to become a social media icon for terror groups.

A still of Burhan Wani, 21-yr-old commander of the Hizb-Ul-Mujahideen with Saddam Padder on the left side while he sermonises the Kashmiri youth and the State Police. (Photo Courtesy: ANI Screengrab)

Burhan Wani, a 21-year-old senior Hizbul Mujahideen commander and the face of new generation militancy in Kashmir, was killed in an encounter in Kokernag area of South Kashmir’s Anantnag district. Two other militants were also killed in the encounter.

Burhan, who shot to fame after his videos asking youngsters in Kashmir to join the militants appeared on social media, was cornered in Bumdoora village in Kokernag on Friday morning by a joint team of police and army.

Also Read: Burhan Wani: The Face of Kashmir’s New Insurgency

His last video appeared on social media after the killing of three policemen at Anantnag in South Kashmir last month in which he threatened to carry out more attacks. Burhan, who had a cash reward of Rs 10 lakh on his head, is believed to have taken up arms to avenge his elder brother’s humiliation by security forces who made him do squats after picking him up for no discernible reason.

Here’s one of the videos Burhan had posted online last year.

Innumerable images of Burhan and posts extolling him were uploaded on social networking sites like Facebook, which security agencies had got removed. However, it did nothing to decrease his popularity.

Another militant killed with him was Sartaz, a resident of Kokernag area. He is believed to have carried out several attacks on police in South Kashmir. The identity of the third is yet to be ascertained.

(With PTI inputs.)

Former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah tweeted his thoughts after the news of Burhan Wani’s death broke.

Separatist leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq tweeted his condolences for Burhan Wani, calling him a “martyr”.