Hizb commander Burhan Wani justifies attacks on J-K cops, warns media

Wani said his group would act against the proposed separate colonies for Pandits and Sainiks, though he added that “Hindus” who migrated could come and stay in the original places they left.

Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani released a new video on the internet on Tuesday, where he spoke about the recent killings of policemen in Kashmir and why militants won’t attack Amarnath Yatris.

Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani released a new video on the internet on Tuesday, where he spoke about the recent killings of policemen in Kashmir and why militants won’t attack Amarnath Yatris. (Photo credit: Social media)

Wani said his group would act against the proposed separate colonies for Pandits and Sainiks, though he added that “Hindus” who migrated could come and stay in the original places they left.

The poster boy of “new age, tech savvy militancy” in Kashmir, Wani left home in 2010 to join the militant outfit. In mid-2015, a photograph of 11 young militants, with him in the centre, went viral as observers said he was using social media to recruit young Kashmiri men into militant ranks.

In the 6.17 minute video, Wani was dressed in a white T-shirt and sported a stubble, with two assault weapons on his either side. He said many of his co-fighters have been killed, even as many operations in the last month were executed targeting army and state police personnel.

Wani also refuted allegations that the outfit was planning attacks on Amarnath Yatra. “Recently, a BSF officer gave a quote that we plan to attack Amarnath Yatra, but we won’t,” he said, adding that the Yatris had come for pilgrimage here.

He also warned the media, accusing them of constantly toeing the Indian state’s line.