Muzaffarabad (Pakistan-Controlled Kashmir) Oct 28: Kashmir's largest rebel group, Hizbul Mujahedin, today confirmed that its top commander, Saiful Rahman, had been shot dead in Kashmir. "We announce with deep sorrow and pain that our Chief Military Adviser Saiful Rahman has been martyred by Indian troops on Sunday evening," spokesman Salim Hashmi said in a statement.
Hizbul yesterday had quibbled with Indian security forces who described Rahman, who was gunned down in Srinagar, as the rebel group's operations chief.
"Our operational chief is Ghazi Naseeruddin and ... He is safe and sound and carrying on his duties," Hashmi told reporters yesterday.
Hashmi today paid tribute to Rahman and said Rafiul Islam had been appointed as the new military chief adviser.
Bureau Report