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Chinks in the Hizbul Mujahideen's armour became clear on Tuesday with two senior commanders of the militant outfit coming out in support of the three who were expelled on Saturday.
Hizb 'launching commander' Abu Amir and Kupwara district commander Asghar Ibn Rahman have joined hands with Abdul Majid Dar, the outfit's former boss in the valley, who was expelled along with Asad Yazdani and Zafar Abdul Fateh.
A local news agency, quoting Rahman, said they were challenging the decision of the Muzaffarabad-based Hizb 'supreme commander' Syed Salahuddin to expel the three militant leaders and would not accept it.
"The top leadership of the Hizbul Mujahideen, including Salahuddin, is out of touch with the ground realities," Rahman reportedly said. "If they return to the valley and see the ground realities their thinking will change."
He argued that strategies have to be changed from time to time in keeping with the realities of the situation.
In the interview Rahman claimed to have the support of all 700 militants active in Kupwara district.
The expelled commanders of the Hizbul Mujahideen have also challenged Salahuddin's decision to throw them out.
On Sunday, Fateh had questioned Salahuddin's power to expel them. On Tuesday, Yazdani, former chief spokesman of the outfit, said the real leadership of the outfit was in their hands. "We have not violated party discipline," he said. "Salahuddin has no authority to expel us. It is a decision taken in haste."
Meanwhile, militants late on Tuesday evening attacked the heavily guarded camp of the Border Security Force and the Special Operations Group at Magam in the central Budgam district.
Police said militants fired grenades and rained bullets from automatic weapons on the camp. Security forces are returning the fire. Reinforcements have been rushed to the spot.
EARLIER REPORTS: Hizb expels Abdul Majid Dar, 2 others Expelled Hizb commander challenges decision Abdul Majid Dar to float political outfit
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