Mir, also known as Dr Saifullah, had only taken over the reins of Hizbul in May after his predecessor, Riyaz Naikoo, was killed in a gunbattle at his native village of Beighpora.
Official data shows 118 militants have been killed, and recruitment has dipped 48% so far this year. But a 2010 lull like this had ended with a new phase of militancy.
Villagers in Budgam's Nasrullah Pora had gathered at a mosque last Friday, and the police arrived to disperse them. By that night, their property had been destroyed.
A round-up of the most important reports in major newspapers around the country – from TOI and HT, Express and The Hindu to The Telegraph, Mumbai Mirror and The Tribune, as well as top financial dailies.
This is the game every nation is now learning to play. Some are finding new allies or seeing value among nations where they’d seen marginal interest. The starkest example is India & Europe.
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