J&K: Top JeM commander killed as security forces gun down 3 Pak terrorists in Kishtwar; Army officer martyred in LoC

Security forces eliminated two terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar on Saturday. Saifullah, top commander of Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad was among those gunned down by forces in the operation underway since Wednesday.

Security forces including personnel from the Indian Army and Jammu and Kashmir police launched a search operation in the forest areas of Kishtwar based on specific intelligence regarding the presence of terrorists on Wednesday. Forces killed a terrorist affiliated with JeM on Friday and the operation has been continuing despite inclement weather.

Security forces said arms and ammunition were also recovered. “In the ongoing operations at #Chhatru, Kishtwar, despite bad and inclement weather, two more Pakistani terrorists have been eliminated. A large quantity of war-like stores including One AK and One M4 rifle have been recovered. Operations are in progress,” White Knight Corps tweeted. According to security forces slain terrorist Saifullah was a top commander of  Jaish-e-Mohammad and was active in the Chenab Valley region for the past one year. 

A security operation is also underway in Basantgarh and Ramnagar areas to track down three other terrorists. Security forces have intensified anti-terror measures ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the Valley next week. Modi will flag off the Vande Bharat train from Katra to Srinagar on April 19.

Meanwhile, a Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) of the Army was killed on Saturday. The officer got injured in an encounter with terrorists while thwarting an infiltration bid in the Akhnoor sector of Line of Control. The officer got hit in the encounter and later succumbed to the injuries, senior officials said.