A Hindu Hizbul Mujaheedin militant, Kuldeep Kumar, was one of the two militants killed by the security forces in village Kilhandi in the hilly Doda district of Jammu region late Wednesday.
The slaying of the Hindu militant by the security forces lends further credibility to reports that some non-Muslims were part of the Hizbul Mujaheedin cadres in the two districts of Doda and adjoining Udhampur districts.
Two years ago, the first Hindu militant Uttam Singh, also belonging to local frontline militant outfit Hizbul Mujaheedin, fell to the bullets of security forces in Doda.
Thereafter, reports suggested that between 10-15 Hindus have joined the Hizbul Mujaheedin ranks in Udhampur and Doda.
In the wake of these reports, senior police officers had atrributed the phenomenon of Hindus joining the militant cadres to poverty of their families, lure of money and militant threats.
Giving details of Wednesday's incident, a senior police officer said security forces raided a hideout at Kilhandi village under police station Doda.
"A fierce encounter ensued and subsequently the security forces gunned down two top militants of Hizbul Mujaheedin, including Kuldeep Kumar alias KK alias Kamran, and Khalid Kashmiri," Dr S P Vaid, inspector general of police, Jammu zone told rediff.com.
Dr Vaid said Kuldeep had joined the militant ranks for money and was involved in many killings. "He was the deputy district commander of the Hizbul Mujaheedin outfit in Doda and had joined the militant ranks only for money. His death is a big success in the anti-militancy operations in Doda district."
He said, "We have reports of about ten Hindu youth having joined the militant ranks in Doda and Udhampur."