The elimination of India's most-wanted terrorist in south Kashmir -- Hizbul Mujahideen commander commander Riyaz Naikoo -- on Wednesday marked a big success for security forces.

A special team of the Jammu and Kashmir Police had been tracking Naikoo for almost six months.

He had over a dozen hideouts in the south Kashmir region, and was the longest surviving terror commander in Kashmir. He had to finally give up and give in when&nbsp;the police tracked down his closest contacts.

Media reports say the security forces approached the hideouts many times, but came back empty-handed.

Later, in house-to-house searches, two possible hideouts were marked.

The journey wasn't easy. When the two-day encounter started on Tuesday, one security agency pulled out, but the police remained.

The forces were sure he was in that house -- fully prepared for the possibility of underground tunnels in the house.

The breakthrough came just three days before Riyaz Naikoo was neutralised&nbsp;in Beighpora, when the forces picked up some of the contacts who were very close to him.

When the encounter finally happened, Riyaz Naikoo kept shifting from one place to another in the home in which he was surrounded.

His counter-attack was not up to the mark, and he was eventually killed.

Riyaz Naikoo had taken over as the commander of Hizbul Mujahideen after&nbsp;Burhan Wani was killed in a gunfight with the security forces in the Kokarnag area in Anantnag district on July 8, 2016. 
&nbsp;

The elimination of India's most-wanted terrorist in south Kashmir -- Hizbul Mujahideen commander commander Riyaz Naikoo -- on Wednesday marked a big success for security forces.

The elimination of India's most-wanted terrorist in south Kashmir -- Hizbul Mujahideen commander commander Riyaz Naikoo -- on Wednesday marked a big success for security forces. A special team of the Jammu and Kashmir Police had been tracking Naikoo for almost six months. He had over a dozen hideouts in the south Kashmir region, and was the longest surviving terror commander in Kashmir. He had to finally give up and give in when the police tracked down his closest contacts. Media reports say the security forces approached the hideouts many times, but came back empty-handed. Later, in house-to-house searches, two possible hideouts were marked. The journey wasn't easy. When the two-day encounter started on Tuesday, one security agency pulled out, but the police remained. The forces were sure he was in that house -- fully prepared for the possibility of underground tunnels in the house. The breakthrough came just three days before Riyaz Naikoo was neutralised in Beighpora, when the forces picked up some of the contacts who were very close to him. When the encounter finally happened, Riyaz Naikoo kept shifting from one place to another in the home in which he was surrounded. His counter-attack was not up to the mark, and he was eventually killed. Riyaz Naikoo had taken over as the commander of Hizbul Mujahideen after Burhan Wani was killed in a gunfight with the security forces in the Kokarnag area in Anantnag district on July 8, 2016.

Police had been after Riyaz Naikoo for six months, got to him through his close contacts

Several news agencies have carried reports eulogising slain terrorist Riyaz Naikoo. WION's Palki Sharma tells why we must not humanise terrorism.

Gravitas: Why attempts to humanising terrorism must stop

The killing of Kashmir's most wanted terrorist, Riyaz Naikoo, who carried a reward of Rs 12 lakh&nbsp;is being termed by the security forces as a major success in Jammu and Kashmir.

Naikoo, the "operational commander"&nbsp;of banned terror outfit Hizb-ul-Mujahideen, according to police was involved in several terror crimes from abductions of policemen to killings.&nbsp;

The operation which killed Naikoo wasn't easy for the men in uniform. Both human and technical intelligence was gathered and aligned for months altogether.&nbsp;

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A special team of Jammu and Kashmir police was formed which was headed by the deputy inspector general south Kashmir range Atul Goyal, who spent years in the NIA, before returning back to JKP cadre. It was under his command and close eye, the operation to kill Naikoo took place, police say.&nbsp;

"For six months, we were generating intelligence (on Naikoo), busted (terrorist) hideouts. We had teams working day and night, even some only slept for 2 to 3 hours and kept tracking overground workers and interrogating them," says Vijay Kumar, Inspector-General of Police, Kashmir.&nbsp;

The police say a small team of security forces was initially sent to Beigpora village in Awantipora and soon CRPF men arrived too. The area which is the native village of Riyaz was cordoned off by a joint team of security forces.&nbsp;

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"On the first day, we found nothing in the same area but the cordon continued and searches too. The next day, terrorists&nbsp;finally opened fire and we retaliated," Vijay says.&nbsp;

Security forces managed to bust a web of hideouts in the area during the operation. As many as six hideouts were busted and in the seventh, Naikoo was found. Police say that there were no tunnels but only hideouts.&nbsp;

"Riyaz would release video and instigate people, he had the power to influence the youth to join terrorism," IG Kashmir said.&nbsp;

In the last four months, security forces have launched 27 anti-terrorist&nbsp;operations in which 64 terrorists have been killed this year which includes Qari Yasir of Jaish-e-Muhammad, Burhan Koka of Ansar Ghazwatul Hind and Riyaz Naikoo of Hizb.&nbsp;

Giving out numbers, police say&nbsp;they have arrested 25 active terrorists and 125 overground workers of terrorists, recently.&nbsp;

Forces say he was the "backbone" of Lashkar-e-Taiba in north Kashmir. J&amp;K police blame Pakistan for creating 'The Resistance Front' (TRF) under international pressure for its activities in the valley.

"TRF claimed all those terrorists&nbsp;who were in our Lashkar list. We have also shut their telegram channel through&nbsp;which they issued statements," Vijar Kumar said.

The killing of Kashmir's most wanted terrorist, Riyaz Naikoo, who carried a reward of Rs 12 lakh is being termed by the security forces as a major success in Jammu and Kashmir.

The killing of Kashmir's most wanted terrorist, Riyaz Naikoo, who carried a reward of Rs 12 lakh is being termed by the security forces as a major success in Jammu and Kashmir. Naikoo, the "operational commander" of banned terror outfit Hizb-ul-Mujahideen, according to police was involved in several terror crimes from abductions of policemen to killings. The operation which killed Naikoo wasn't easy for the men in uniform. Both human and technical intelligence was gathered and aligned for months altogether. Also read: COVID-19: Pakistan to lift shutdown in phases from Saturday A special team of Jammu and Kashmir police was formed which was headed by the deputy inspector general south Kashmir range Atul Goyal, who spent years in the NIA, before returning back to JKP cadre. It was under his command and close eye, the operation to kill Naikoo took place, police say. "For six months, we were generating intelligence (on Naikoo), busted (terrorist) hideouts. We had teams working day and night, even some only slept for 2 to 3 hours and kept tracking overground workers and interrogating them," says Vijay Kumar, Inspector-General of Police, Kashmir. The police say a small team of security forces was initially sent to Beigpora village in Awantipora and soon CRPF men arrived too. The area which is the native village of Riyaz was cordoned off by a joint team of security forces. Also Read: 190 Pakistanis stranded in India return home "On the first day, we found nothing in the same area but the cordon continued and searches too. The next day, terrorists finally opened fire and we retaliated," Vijay says. Security forces managed to bust a web of hideouts in the area during the operation. As many as six hideouts were busted and in the seventh, Naikoo was found. Police say that there were no tunnels but only hideouts. "Riyaz would release video and instigate people, he had the power to influence the youth to join terrorism," IG Kashmir said. In the last four months, security forces have launched 27 anti-terrorist operations in which 64 terrorists have been killed this year which includes Qari Yasir of Jaish-e-Muhammad, Burhan Koka of Ansar Ghazwatul Hind and Riyaz Naikoo of Hizb. Giving out numbers, police say they have arrested 25 active terrorists and 125 overground workers of terrorists, recently. Forces say he was the "backbone" of Lashkar-e-Taiba in north Kashmir. J&K police blame Pakistan for creating 'The Resistance Front' (TRF) under international pressure for its activities in the valley. "TRF claimed all those terrorists who were in our Lashkar list. We have also shut their telegram channel through which they issued statements," Vijar Kumar said.

Multiple hideouts, 6 months & 24x7 work led to killing of Riyaz Naikoo in J&K

In a huge victory in a fight against terrorism in the valley, Hizbul Mujahideen chief Riyaz Naikoo was killed in an encounter with security forces in Kashmir. Watch report.

Top Hizbul Mujahideen commander killed | Riyaz Naikoo | Indian security forces

In a huge victory in the fight against terrorism in the valley, &nbsp;Hizbul Mujahideen chief Riyaz Naikoo was killed in an encounter with security forces in Kashmir's Pulwama district.

35-year-old Naikoo was one of the oldest surviving members of the Hizbul Mujahideen. He carried a bounty of Rs 12 lakh on his head.

&nbsp;Naikoo was wanted in multiple incidents of killing of security personnel, including police officials.

&nbsp;He also featured in photographs with Burhan Wani, who was killed in Anantnag in July 2016. Before joining the militant ranks, Naikoo worked as a mathematics teacher at a local school.

He was known to have a passion for painting roses before he picked up the gun at the age of 33.

&nbsp;Security forces hold Naikoo responsible for holding the Hizbul together after its possible disintegration when a top terror commander Zakir Musa broke away from the Hizbul ranks.

&nbsp;Naikoo took over as the chief of Hizbul Mujahideen after the outfit’s poster boy Burhan Wani was killed in a gunfight with the security forces in 2016.

Naikoo had released a video in 2017, saying he would welcome the return of Kashmiri pandits in the Kashmir valley and claimed that terrorists were not enemies of the pandits.

&nbsp;Meanwhile, two other militants have been killed in a separate encounter in Awantipora sector of Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday night.

In a huge victory in the fight against terrorism in the valley, Hizbul Mujahideen chief Riyaz Naikoo was killed in an encounter with security forces in Kashmir's Pulwama district.

In a huge victory in the fight against terrorism in the valley, Hizbul Mujahideen chief Riyaz Naikoo was killed in an encounter with security forces in Kashmir's Pulwama district. 35-year-old Naikoo was one of the oldest surviving members of the Hizbul Mujahideen. He carried a bounty of Rs 12 lakh on his head. Naikoo was wanted in multiple incidents of killing of security personnel, including police officials. He also featured in photographs with Burhan Wani, who was killed in Anantnag in July 2016. Before joining the militant ranks, Naikoo worked as a mathematics teacher at a local school. He was known to have a passion for painting roses before he picked up the gun at the age of 33. Security forces hold Naikoo responsible for holding the Hizbul together after its possible disintegration when a top terror commander Zakir Musa broke away from the Hizbul ranks. Naikoo took over as the chief of Hizbul Mujahideen after the outfit’s poster boy Burhan Wani was killed in a gunfight with the security forces in 2016. Naikoo had released a video in 2017, saying he would welcome the return of Kashmiri pandits in the Kashmir valley and claimed that terrorists were not enemies of the pandits. Meanwhile, two other militants have been killed in a separate encounter in Awantipora sector of Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday night.

Hizbul Mujahideen chief Riyaz Naikoo killed in encounter with security forces in Jammu and Kashmir

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Police had been after Riyaz Naikoo for six months, got to him through his close contacts

Gravitas: Why attempts to humanising terrorism must stop

Multiple hideouts, 6 months & 24x7 work led to killing of Riyaz Naikoo in J&K

Top Hizbul Mujahideen commander killed | Riyaz Naikoo | Indian security forces

Hizbul Mujahideen chief Riyaz Naikoo killed in encounter with security forces in Jammu and Kashmir