Hizbul Mujahideen top commander Riyaz Naikoo killed in Awantipora encounter

 Hizbul top Commander Riyaz Naikoo was gunned down in an encounter in Awantipora area of Pulwama district in Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday.  

On Wednesday, Hizbul Mujahideen commander Riyaz Naikoo was killed in an encounter. He carried a reward of Rs 12 lakh on his head and his killing is considered a big blow to terror activities in the Valley.

Nikoo was responsible for a number of attacks against security forces. 

According to reports, Naikoo's bodyguard is also believed to have been killed in the highly sensitive operation which began late last night.

Mobile internet suspended in Kashmir:

Mobile internet services in Kashmir were suspended on Wednesday after top commander of Hizbul Mujahideen terror group Riyaz Naikoo, along with another terrorist, was trapped in an encounter with security forces in Pulwama district, officials said.

There have been a series of counter-insurgency operations in the Kashmir Valley in the past few months. On Sunday, five security personnel including the commanding officer of 21-Rashtriya Rifles and four others were martyred during an operation in Handwara in north Kashmir.

Colonel Ashutosh Sharma, the commanding officer of 21-Rashtriya Rifles, Major Anuj Sood, Naik Rajesh Kumar, Lance Naik Dinesh and Jammu and Kashmir Police Sub-Inspector, Sageer Ahmad Pathan alias Qazi were martyred during the operation.