Why Riyaz Naikoo was labeled a “moderate,” and by whom, is not explained in this story, but this incident does serve as a good indication of why throwing this label around is usually a useless and often ridiculous exercise.
“ISIS-style execution in Kashmir: Hizbul Mujahideen kills 16-year-old after branding him ‘informer,'” Times Now News, November 18, 2018:
Srinagar: A chilling ISIS-style execution video was released by Pakistan-based terrorist group Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) in Kashmir. A Kashmiri youth was branded an informer and shot multiple times in the head by Hizbul terrorists in the dastardly act. The 11th-grade student was executed on camera over suspicion of being an informer just to send a message to those who help the Indian Army.
Sources told Times Now that Kashmir’s Hizbul chief Riyaz Naikoo is suspected to have carried out the ISIS-style execution. The bone-chilling video shows Kashmiri speaking executioners spraying the youth’s head with bullets.
Former Kashmir chief minister and J&K National Conference party leader Omar Abdullah condemned the incident….
Maths teacher-turned-militant, Naikoo, took the reign of HM after the killing of Sabzar Bhatt in May, 2017. He is considered to be the overall commander of militant outfit in the entire valley. He is reportedly been cornered many times by the security forces but managed to escape each time.
Naikoo has projected the image of a moderate militant who last year released a video welcoming the Kashmiri pundits back to the valley, claiming that Kashmiri pundits are not the enemy of the militants.
Security forces believe Naikoo has been active in recruiting young people from South Kashmir into militancy. He released an audio message in August threatening policemen, not the “Indian agents”.