A top commander of the Pakistan-sponsored Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) was killed by security forces during an encounter in the Khanyar area of Srinagar on Saturday. The slain terrorist has been identified as Usman, police said.
Security forces had launched a cordon and search operation in the area following intelligence inputs about the presence of terrorists. An encounter broke out after the ultras, who were hiding in the densely populated area, opened fire at the forces.
One terrorist was killed while four security personnel were injured in the gun battle, police said.
READ - J&K: Two militants killed in Anantnag; encounter on in Srinagar
Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kashmir Zone, Vidhi Kumar Birdi said the killed terrorist was involved in the murder of Inspector Masroor Wani. Wani was shot dead from close range while playing cricket in the Eidgah ground in October 2023.
“Security forces have killed a terrorist, who has been identified as Usman. He was the commander of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). Four security personnel have been injured. Usman was a foreign terrorist and his role and involvement in the murder of Inspector Masroor has come to light and further investigation is being done in this regard,” Birdi said.
A senior police officer told PTI that Usman was active in the Valley for a very long time and was involved in several attacks. Security forces believe that his killing would be a major blow to the terror outfit.
Police further revealed that Usman was also the right hand of Sajad Gul, a commander of The Resistance Front based in Pakistan. TRS is believed to be a shadow outfit of the LeT.
Meanwhile, in another encounter in Anantnag earlier in the day, two militants were killed near Halkan Gali in the Shangus-Larnoo area. The operation was launched by police and security forces after receiving specific intelligence about the presence of militants in the area.
With Jammu and Kashmir witnessing a spike in terror activities recently, former chief minister and National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah on Saturday raised doubts whether there was an attempt to destabilise the newly formed government in the union territory.
Omar Abdullah has taken over as the new chief minister following the NC’s thumping victory in the assembly elections, held for the first time since the abrogation of Article 370 and the scrapping of Jammu and Kashmir’s state status.