Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir Police on Tuesday said that one of the militants killed in Handwara gunfight today was behind the killing of Hurriyat activists who was murdered last week in Bomai area of Sopore.

Hakim-ur-Rehman Sultani was killed on September 8 in his native village at Bomai.

In a press statement, the police said that that Liyaqat, one of the slain militants in Handwara along with other LeT militants Gani Khawaja, a resident of Kralgund and Majid Mir resident of Nowpora Sopore is involved in case FIR No.70/2018 under section 307 RPC, 7/27 Arms Act of  Police Station Bomai regarding the murder of Hakim-ur-Rehman Sultani resident of Bomai on 08-09-2018

The statement further reads: “Refer to our earlier press release regarding the encounter at Guloora in Handwara, it is further communicated that the two killed militants have been identified as Furqan Rashid Lone @ Adil and Liyaqat Ahmad Lone @ Sahaba @ Umar Khalid.

“Furqan Rashid Lone alias Adil son of Ab Rashid was a  resident of Shartpora, Langate and was affiliated with proscribed terror outfit LeT. He was wanted in a number of criminal cases registered at Police Station Handwara: FIR No. 271/2016 U/S 148, 149, 307, 436, 332 RPC of Police Station Handwara; FIR No.334/2016 U/S 148,149,307,436, 332 RPC of Police Station Handwara; FIR No.357/2017 U/S 120RPC, 18 ULA of Police Station Handwara.”

The statement added that Liyaqat Ahmad Lone alias Sahaba alias Umar Khalid son of Gh Mohi u din Lone was resident of Harwan, Sopore and was affiliated with proscribed terror outfit LeT. He had a long history of involvement in militancy related activities and was wanted in a number of criminal cases FIR No. 45/2016 under section 18b, 20 ULA of Police Station Bomia; FIR 81/2017 under section 363, 376 RPC of Police Station Bomai regarding kidnapping and rape of a minor local girl.