In a major success for security forces, a top Pakistani commander of the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) outfit, along with two other militants, was killed in two separate encounters in Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday, officials reported. These operations took place in Srinagar and Anantnag districts.
The LeT commander, identified as Usman, had been active in the Kashmir Valley for several years and was directly involved in numerous attacks, including the assassination of Inspector Masroor Wani. Wani was fatally shot at close range while playing cricket at the Eidgah grounds in Srinagar in October of last year, a senior police officer stated.
Usman’s death marks a significant setback for the LeT’s operations in the region. “Usman was the senior-most Pakistani LeT commander here,” the officer said, highlighting the operational void his death is expected to create within the militant network.
Srinagar Encounter and Security Forces Injuries
The Srinagar encounter took place in the densely populated Khanyar neighborhood following specific intelligence on militant presence. Security forces launched a cordon-and-search operation which escalated when militants opened fire, prompting a swift retaliation from the search team. According to a police official, the exchange of gunfire led to a fire in the building where the militants had taken refuge, with thick smoke seen rising from the site. Usman was killed in the ensuing firefight.
Four security personnel — two Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawans and two policemen — sustained injuries and were subsequently transported to the Army’s 92 Base Hospital, where their condition is reported as stable. This encounter in Srinagar is the first in over two years, with the last reported incident in September 2022 in Nowgam, where two militants of Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind (AGuH) were neutralized.
Usman was also known to be the close associate of Sajad Gul, a prominent TRF (The Resistance Front) commander based in Pakistan. The TRF is widely believed to be an extension of the LeT.
Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir, V. K. Birdi, visited the injured security personnel at the hospital, expressing gratitude for their courage and reaffirming support for their recovery. “The contributions of these personnel are invaluable to maintaining peace and security in the region,” Birdi said.
Anantnag Operation Neutralizes Two PAFF Militants
In a separate operation on Saturday, two militants associated with the People’s Anti-Fascist Front (PAFF), a Jaish-e-Mohammad offshoot, were killed in the Shangus-Larnoo area of Anantnag district. Brigadier Anirudh Chauhan, Commander of 2 Sector RR (Rashtriya Rifles), disclosed that these militants were responsible for the recent killing of Territorial Army Rifleman Hilal Ahmad Bhat on October 8. Bhat was allegedly kidnapped during search operations in Anantnag’s forest area, and his body was later found in Kokernag’s Kazwan forest.
Acting on intelligence regarding PAFF activity in Anantnag, security forces launched a targeted operation in the Larnoo area, leading to the encounter. Brigadier Chauhan reported the seizure of a significant cache of weaponry, including M4 and AK rifles, grenades, and three improvised explosive devices (IEDs). “Both terrorists were highly wanted and had been involved in multiple attacks, particularly on non-local civilians,” he noted.
Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police, South Kashmir Range, Javid Ahmad Matoo, stated that preliminary investigations identified the slain militants as Zahid Rashid, a Bijbehara resident, and Arbaz Mir, a Qaimoh resident who had reportedly joined militant ranks after going missing in 2018.
Additional Search Operations in Bandipora
Following these successful encounters, security forces launched an additional search operation in North Kashmir’s Bandipora district after observing suspicious movements. Troops from the Army’s Chinar Corps, based in Srinagar, reportedly spotted suspected militants in the Panar area on Friday evening. The militants, upon being challenged, opened indiscriminate fire before fleeing into the jungle. Security forces continue to pursue leads in the region to locate the individuals.
(Inputs from reports)
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