Slain JeM commander was involved in several killings

A Pakistani operational chief of the Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) outfit who was killed on Monday was involved in several killings in Jammu and Kashmir including the October 3 attack on a BSF camp near the Srinagar airport.

Police said the slain commander was to blame for many security and civilian killings in addition to masterminding suicide (Fidayeen) attacks.

The militant "was constantly exploring the opportunities to kill the security forces and police personnel and to attack police and security establishments in the state", a statement from the police said.

"He was motivating youth and poor boys to join his outfit to execute grenade attacks for monetary benefits on behalf of the Pakistan-based JeM commanders," it added.

Acting on a tip off, police set up a covert checkpost in Ladoora village in Sopore area. The militant fired at the police party which retaliated, leading to a gun battle in which the Pakistani was injured.

He managed to escape from the spot and entered a house, which security forces immediately cordoned off. In the meanwhile, the CRPF and Army also joined the operation.

As the gun battle continued, the militant, identified as Khalid alias Shahid Showkat, got killed, the police said.

He was involved in an attack on a Special Police Officer (SPO), Altaf Ahmad Khan, at Hajin Handwara in which the SPO along with his son and father were seriously injured.

He was also involved in the killing of mobile phone tower guard Eidul Amin Mir in Sopore, Fayaz Ahmad Rather of Saidpora, Suhail Ahmad Dar of Handwara and Sarpanch Ghulam Nabi Khawaja of Kralgund besides an attack on Naz Khan in Handwara.

He was also linked to a Fidayeen attack on an Rashtriya Rifles camp in 2016 at Khaja Bagh in Baramulla and masterminded the attack on a BSF camp at Humhama near the Srinagar airport on October 3 which left a trooper and three militants dead.

--IANS

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