In a major feat, security forces gunned down Kashmir’s most-wanted terrorist and top Hizbul Mujahideen commander Riyaz Naikoo, today. He was killed during an encounter at his native village in Beigpora area in South Kashmir’s Awantipora after a massive search operation.

A joint team of the Jammu and Kashmir Police, Army’s 55 Rashtriya Rifles and CRPF trapped him Wednesday morning after they launched a search operation in Beighpora following a tip off about the presence of militants in the area.

The slain terrorist was one of the most wanted militants and the government announced a cash reward of Rs 12 lakh for any information leading to him.

Who was Riyaz Naikoo? Here are some facts about him:

Naikoo was a popular teacher in his village. Hailing from Beighpora village in south Kashmir, Naikoo acquired a degree in mathematics and taught the subject at a local school.

On June 1, 2012, the math teacher disappeared. Although his family thought he was harassed and beaten by police, Naikoo was found cradling a gun, when found. In the next five years, he rose up the Hizb ranks and took up the outfit’s operations in the Valley following the killing of Yasin Itoo, a senior Hizbul Mujahideen commander.

The tech-savvy Naikoo turned to social media to communicate.
Riyaz Naikoo came into the limelight in January, 2016 when he arrived during the funeral procession of Shariq Ahmad Bhat, who had been killed in an encounter. Naikoo, who was carrying Kalashnikov rifles, made his way towards Bhat’s body and fired several shots in the air.

Security forces even tracked Riyaz Naikoo love liaisons. An officer said once they tracked down a message to his lover for whom Naikoo wrote “you remind me of the chinar tree”.
Naikoo began uploading photographs of militant recruits on social media, “welcomed the return of Pandits to Kashmir” and described Amarnath pilgrims as “guests”.

Son of a tailor, Riyaz Naikoo once hoodwinked a top officer by saying that he would surrender in 2018. However, he never did.