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Islamic Militant Killed While Visiting Girlfriend | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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Jammu, India, Asharq Al-Awsat- Masood Ahmad Nathnu, financial chief and senior commander of Hizbul Mujahideen, paid with his life in his pursuit for love as he was killed in an ambush by Indian forces on Saturday whilst visiting the home of his girlfriend.

Acting on a tip-off, the police cordoned off the village of Dama, 10 km northeast of the town of Doda, in Jammu and Kashmir, in the early hours of Saturday night, apprehended the militant and shot him dead.

This is not the first incident of its kind. Earlier this year, another top commander, Shakil Ansari, was also killed whilst visiting his girlfriend.

An Indian police spokesman described the operation as a success and said the Islamic group was likely to face a financial crisis as it sought to replace Nathnu.

Militants are already under pressure by recent Pakistani policies aimed at undermining groups fighting in the disputed provinces of Jammu and Kashmir , army sources said.

A firearm was recovered from the body of Nathnu who has been heavily involved with Hizbul Mujahideen for the past 10 years.

His death comes as the Indian army continues to target top officials in the Islamic group, killing more than six in the past month alone. This campaign has weakened the largest militant group in Kashmir opposed to recent peace overtures between the moderate Hurriyat Conference and the government in New Delhi as its head, Syed Saludin remains in Pakistan-controlled Kashmir.