A day after the killing of Sabzar Bhat, Hizbul Mujahideen identified Riyaz Naikoo, at 29 the oldest surviving militant of the outfit, as its new commander in Kashmir, Times of India reported on Monday.

Tech-savvy Naikoo is considered a moderate among the hardline Hizb militant, and speaks contrary to the deposed Hizb commander Zakir Musa. He favours a secular society in the valley.

“Hizbul is likely to nominate Naikoo as its new chief to counter the narrative of deposed commander Zakir Musa that militants in Kashmir were fighting for an Islamic Caliphate and imposition of Shariat”,  quoting intelligence sources, the Delhi based newspaper reported.

Guest