A Top Hizbul Mujahideen militant and his two associates were arrested from the forests of Bandipore in north Kashmir,the Army claimed on Wednesday. J&K: 5 Hizbul Mujahideen terrorists killed by security forces in Ganderbal Talib Hussain Lali (48),officials said,had been actively involved in militant activities in the Valley for the last 18 years. His two associates have been identified as Rashid and Showket. Express opinion: Tunda,Bhatkal arrests show how India's security apparatus is getting better The three were arrested after a brief encounter from Bazipora forests during a search operation. Lali fired some shots towards the troops,but later he surrendered. His arrest is a big success for the security forces as he was the longest surviving militant, said a senior Army official. Related: Do not be friends with India,Hizbul chief warns Nawaz Sharif The government had earlier announced Rs 5 lakh award for Lalis capture. Sources,however,said since the arrest of Hizbul commander Dr Dawood,two years ago,Lali was not actively involved in militant activities. Having lost contact with the outfit,Lali,a category A militant,used to roam around in the dense forests of Bandipore,they said. Related: 'Hizbul Mujahideen commander killed in J&K encounter' Police sources said Lali had surrendered as he was fed up with living a life in hiding for a long time. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) will seek his custody in connection with a 2011 case of alleged channelling of money by Hizbul chief Syed Salahuddin to the families of terrorists killed in the Valley through hawala and human couriers. Last month,a Delhi court had issued a non-bailable warrant against Lali after NIA investigators zeroed on his role. Top NIA officials said Lalis interrogation would help them to understand the route of terror funding by the HM. It is alleged that Salahuddin,who has been declared a proclaimed offender,is backing a Pakistan-based charitable organisation,Jammu & Kashmir Affectees Relief Trust (JKART). Formed in 1990 for running refugee camps in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir for Kashmiris who crossed over to Pakistan,the JKART reportedly has its head office in Rawalpindi and branches in Islamabad and Muzaffarabad. WITH ENS,DELHI
