Srinagar, May 25: Police today said that the killing of Zakir Musa has ended the “cult and concept of radical jihad” and Musa was the last militant of ISIS-influenced ideology.

“Zaki Musa has created a new concept and cult of radical jihad and militancy in Kashmir. He was the last militant of such radicalised ideology. With his killing, security forces have eliminated the last such militant who was influenced by ISIS kind of terrorism in Kashmir,” Director General of Police Dilbgah Singh told Kashmir News Service (KNS).

The DGP said that youth and other people should understand that radical ideology or other kind of militancy leads to death and destruction.

“Some youth were influenced by the radical ideology of Zakir Musa and we would see youth waving ISIS flags in Downtown around Jamia Masjid on Fridays. His killing is the death of radical concept of Jihad in Kashmir. Any radical idea of militancy is against the interests of youth and other people of the state,” the DGP said.

Zakir Musa who was commander of his outfit Ansar Ghazwatul Hind was killed in Dadsara village of Tral in Pulwama district by security forces in a gunfight.

His killing evoked protests at several places with authorities imposing curfew on Friday and Hurriyat calling for shutdown today in Kashmir.

The police chief said that in south Kashmir peace and normalcy is returning as security forces have been successful in killing leadership of militants in the last few months.

“There is a decline in the recruitment of youth towards militants. Positive change is coming in the south Kashmir because top leadership of militant groups, particular foreign militant groups like LeT and JeM have been eliminated,” he said, adding the operations against militants will continue to restore complete peace and normalcy in south Kashmir.

“In the last few months, incidents of stone pelting and law and order situation have declined. Many youth have shunned the path of militancy and joined mainstream. We hope to bring peace and normalcy so that people live in peace and without disturbance,” he said.

The DGP said that he appreciates and is grateful to the people of Kashmir for maintaining peace and calm in the last three days and hoped that people will cooperate with the police and security forces for bringing peace to the Kashmir region.