Srinagar, Feb. 25: Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin has praised the militants involved in the Pampore attack but owes a debt of gratitude to the security forces involved in the operation.

After all, one of the many rescued by the forces during the operation at the Entrepreneur Development Institute (EDI) complex was his son Syed Muheeb, who works as manager (information technology) at the hub.

"Yes he was one of the many rescued (by the security forces)," Mohammad Ismail Parrey, director of the state government-run EDI, told The Telegraph. The director said the 31-year-old Muheeb, who holds an Mtech degree, was appointed some years back.

Around 120 civilians and employees were initially trapped inside the complex when the three militants forced their way into it before carrying out an attack on a CRPF convoy on February 20, killing two jawans and injuring nine others.

In the counter-offensive launched to flush out the militants from the complex, Captain Pawan Kumar, Captain Tushar Mahajan and Lance Naik Om Prakash were killed. The operation dragged on till February 22 when the three militants were killed.

A police officer said they had no idea initially that one of the many rescued was Salahuddin's son. "But he would have been saved even if we knew it then. He is a civilian and has no connection with militancy," the officer said.

Muheeb could not be reached for comment by this paper in spite of several attempts.

The EDI employees later revealed that the militants had let them all go after the complex was cordoned off by the forces on February 20 and there was no hostage crisis.

"All employees were rescued during the first two hours of the operation. They (militants) also allowed them to go, only asked them to leave their mobiles behind. I don't know why they did that. Maybe they thought the phones could have been used to pass on information," Parrey said.

The disclosure about Muheeb came as the Salahuddin headed-United Jihad Council - an umbrella group of militant outfits - announced a bravery award for the three militants.

A council spokesperson, Syed Sadaqat Hussain, said Salahuddin had convened a special meeting to offer tribute to the trio. "All three militants fought valiantly. The attacks on Indian forces will be intensified and our militants will continue to target Indian establishments," Hussain quoted Salahuddin as saying.

The insurgents were from the Lashkar-e-Toiba, which yesterday claimed it had carried out the attack to avenge the death of two civilians killed recently by security forces while protesting the death of a local militant in Pampore.