After Wani's death, Hizb appoints Ghaznavi as new commander

As protests against the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani continued in the valley, the outfit named Mehmood Ghaznavi its new chief of Kashmir.

“The decision was taken by the Hizb Command Council that was presided by outfit chief Syed Salahuddin,” a statement by the militant group said.

Ghaznavi will succeed Burhan Wani, whose death in an encounter last week triggered a wave of violent protests in Jammu and Kashmir. At least 33 people have died so far and more than 1,300 have been injured.

There is no immediate information available on Ghaznavi, however, rumours are swirling that Ghaznavi’s actual name is Sabzar Ahmed Bhat. Like Wani, Bhat is a a local from Tral in south Kashmir. He was a trusted lieutenant of Burhan and was aware of most of his contacts and links across the Line of Control.

Reports say that a failed love affair and the killing of Wani’s brother – Khalid – pushed him to choose the gun and join the terror group.

In December 2015, police announced a cash reward on a group of militants and Sabzar was among them.

Image: A woman walks past a closed shop painted with graffiti during curfew in Srinagar. Photograph: Danish Ismail/Reuters