Burhan Wani’s Successor Among Three Hizbul Mujahideen Terrorists Killed In Kashmir

In a huge blow to Hizbul Mujahideen (HM), its operational commander Yasin Itoo was killed with two of his cohorts in an encounter in South Kashmir's Shopian district on Sunday, Hindustan Times has reported. The 40-year-old Itoo alias Mehmood Gaznavi was Burhan Wani’s successor.

During the initial hours of the gun battle, there was some confusion about his identity. It was presumed that the terrorist killed in the gunfight was Adil Malik, another HM operative. However, security forces later identified the terrorist Yasin Itoo.

Itoo was in Shopian along with around 10 other terrorists belonging to HM and the Lashkar-e-Taiba when they were trapped by a joint team of the Army’s 03 Rashtriya Rifles, CRPF’s 14 and 177 Battalion at Awneera village, south of Srinagar.

Two soldiers were also killed in the gunfight that lasted for over 16-hours.