Hizb commander held

A self-styled commander of Hizbul Muhjahideen, a militant outfit, has been arrested by security forces in Anantnag district of Kashmir.
"Mubarak Ahmad Wani alias Major Saqib, Divisional Commander of Hizbul Mujahideen, was arrested based on specific intelligence in a joint operation yesterday," an Army spokesman said today.
An AK rifle, a pistol and some ammunition were recovered from his possession, the spokesman said.
Wani had joined militancy in 2001 when he had crossed the Line of Control to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir to get arms training, he said.
The spokesman said he returned to the Valley in 2007 and was subsequently arrested the same year.

After serving a two-year detention, Wani was released and rejoined the militant ranks in 2010. He was again arrested the same year and released the next year.
Wani was recycled into militancy last year and had been operating as Divisional Commander of the militant outfit.