Hizbul Chief Claims Responsibility For Terror Attack In Handwara

Five security personnel and two terrorists were killed in the attack.

Hizbul Mujahideen Chief Syed Salahuddin has claimed responsibility for the Handwara terror attack in North Kashmir on 3 May, in which a Commanding Officer of the 21 Rashtriya Rifles battalion, and four other security personnel lost their lives.

News agency ANI has tweeted a video of Salahuddin claiming responsibility for the overnight encounter.

Hizbul Mujahideen Chief Syed Salahuddin claims responsibility for the Handwara (J&K) terror attack pic.twitter.com/OJJptxPxCX

— ANI (@ANI) May 9, 2020

Five security personnel, including a Commanding Officer of 21 Rashtriya Rifles unit, a Major, two soldiers and one Jammu and Kashmir policeman were killed in the encounter. Two terrorists were also killed by the forces.

One of the terrorists killed has been identified as a top Lashkar-e Taiba commander Haider from Pakistan.

In a follow-up operation that the Indian security forces launched on 6 May in Kashmir's Pulwama, top Hizbul Mujahideen commander Riyaz Naikoo was also killed.

Salahuddin claimed responsibility for the Handwara attack in a condolence meeting for Naikoo.

Earlier, Prime Minister Modi had paid tribute to the deceased security officers saying that their “valour and sacrifice will never be forgotten.”