New Delhi:

In a significant breakthrough, one of the National Investigation Agency’s (NIA) most wanted terrorists and LeT commander was killed during an encounter with security forces on Wednesday night in Kashmir’s Kulgam district.

Three terrorists have been killed in the gunfight which broke out in the Redwani Payeen area of south Kashmir’s Kulgam after security forces launched a search operation late on Monday night.

Basit Ahmed Dar, a resident of Redwani Payeen, was also the commander of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) offshoot group, The Resistant Front (TRF) and was involved in the killings of civilians and security personnel. Apart from Dar, two LeT terrorists identified as Momin Gulzar and Fahim Ahmed Baba were also killed in the operation.

“It’s a big achievement for us as they were involved in 18 killings. These killings include those of security personnel, civilians and minorities,” Inspector General of Police Kashmir V K Birdi told NDTV.

The security forces have intensified search operations in the Union territory days after an Indian Air Force officer was killed and four others injured when their convoy was targetted in Poonch district on May 4. 

CCTV footage photographs of three terrorists believed to be involved in the attack were released on Wednesday.

The three have been identified as Illiyas, a former Pakistan Army commando, a Pakistani terrorist called Hadoon (or Hadun), and Abu Hamza, the code-name of commander of Lashkar-e-Taiba.
 

New Delhi:

Photographs – from CCTV footage – have been released of three terrorists believed to be involved in the attack on an Air Force convoy in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district last week, in which Corporal Vikky Pahade was killed and four of his colleagues injured.

All three reportedly used high-powered assault rifles, United States-made M4s and Russian-made AK-47s, in the attack, which was the first major strike of the year in an area that witnessed several terror-related strikes on military targets and soldiers last year.

The three have been identified as Illiyas, a former Pakistan Army commando, a Pakistani terrorist called Hadoon (or Hadun), and Abu Hamza, the code-name of commander of the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba.

READ | Several Detained In Massive Search Ops After J&K Air Force Convoy Attack

According to a sketch from the J&K Police, Hamza is described as a 30-32-year-old man of medium build and fair complexion, sporting a trimmed haircut.

He was last seen wearing a Pathani suit with a brown shawl and an orange bag.

A reward of Rs 10 lakh has been offered for information leading to his arrest.

READ | Air Force Soldier Killed, 5 Injured In Terror Attack On Convoy In J&K

The attack on the IAF convoy on May 4 followed numerous terrorist strikes in the Poonch and Rajouri areas over the past few weeks. One of the attacks – in the Shadra Sharief area of Rajouri – saw a 40-year-old man, a government employee, shot dead outside a mosque.

The 40-year-old man, Mohammad Razak, worked with the social welfare department, and his attackers used a United States-made M4 assault rifle and also a pistol.  

READ | Pak Terrorists Carried Out Rajouri Targeted Attack, Used US-Made M4 Rifle

His brother, a soldier in the Territorial Army, was with him during the attack. The terrorists tried to kidnap him but he managed to escape unhurt, a senior officer said.

Security officials indicated the terrorist code-named Abu Hamza was behind that attack.

READ | Lashkar Terrorist Behind Govt Employee’s Killing In Rajouri: Cops

Poonch is part of Anantnag-Rajouri parliamentary constituency, which will vote in the sixth phase – May 25 – of the ongoing Lok Sabha election.

These attacks came after two non-locals – a migrant worker from Bihar and a man from Dehradun – were targeted in the Anantnag and Herpora areas of Shopian district.

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Rajouri:

 Police on Tuesday claimed a foreign terrorist codenamed “Abu Hamza” of the proscribed Lashkar-e-Taiba was involved in the killing of a government employee in Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri district and announced a Rs 10 lakh reward for information on him.

Mohammad Razaq (40) was killed on Monday in the Kunda Top village of the Thanamandi area. Razaq worked in the government’s Social Welfare department while his brother Mohammad Tahir Choudhary is a soldier in the Territorial Army.

Razaq was buried in the village on Tuesday.

“Two terrorists affiliated to the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) barged into the compound of a Territorial Army official in the village,” a police spokesperson said.

Choudhary, however, escaped unhurt from the attack, she said.

A case has been filed at the Thanamandi police station, the official said and added, “An investigation has been launched to track down each person involved in this act of terror.” Credible evidence has been obtained that identifies one of the assailants as a “foreign terrorist” with the code name Abu Hamza, the spokesperson said.

The police and security forces deployed in the twin districts of Rajouri-Poonch are working to neutralise this group, she added.

A reward of Rs 10 lakh has been announced for providing information on the terrorist, the police said while releasing a poster of his likeness.

The 32-year-old terrorist was wearing a Pathani suit with a brown shawl and had an orange bag. He has been operating in the Shadra Sharief and the Der ki Gali areas and involved in numerous terror activities, the police said.

“Whoever provides any information leading to the arrest of the accused shall be rewarded Rs 10 lakh and the identity of the informant will be kept secret,” the spokesperson said.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Srinagar:

Security forces have arrested a terrorist associated with Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) outfit in Baramulla district of Jammu and Kashmir, police said on Wednesday.

“Police along with security forces arrested a terrorist associate linked with proscribed terror outfit LeT/TRF and recovered incriminating materials, arms and ammunition from his possession in Baramulla,” a police spokesperson said.

The arrest was made at checkpoint Ushkara in Baramulla set up on Tuesday by security forces following information about possible movement of terrorists in the area, the spokesperson said.

“During naka checking suspicious movement of one person coming towards naka point by foot was observed. While seeing police party and security forces, the suspect person tried to flee from the spot but alert naka party apprehended him tactfully,” he said.

The individual was identified as Mudasir Ahmad Bhat, a resident of Ushkara.

Two hand grenades and Rs 40,000 cash were recovered from his possession, according to police. The matter has been booked in Baramulla.

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

Srinagar:

Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) commander Uzair Khan was among the two terrorists killed in a gunfight in Jammu and Kashmir’s Anantnag district that ended after seven days, Additional Director General of Police, Kashmir, Vijay Kumar said on Tuesday. Four security personnel, including two army officers and a police officer, lost their lives in the gunfight, which Mr Kumar said is over.

“Till now, LeT commander Uzair Khan’s body has been recovered. The dead body of another terrorist is visible, but it has not been possible to retrieve it yet,” the ADGP told reporters in Anantnag.

He said the gunfight, which began in the Gadole forest area of the south Kashmir district on Wednesday last week, is over, but the search operation will continue.

“There is a huge area that remains to be searched. There can be a lot of unexploded shells which will be recovered and destroyed. We appeal to the people not to go to the area,” he added.

The ADGP said security forces had reports that two to three terrorists were there. “There is a possibility that the third dead body may be somewhere. It will be known after the search is complete,” Mr Kumar said.

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)