Top LeT commander killed, 4 security personnel injured in J&K encounter

A top Pakistani commander of the terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) who was active in the Valley for several years was killed and four security personnel were injured in an encounter in the Khanyar area here on Saturday, officials said.

 

Security forces launched a cordon and search operation in the densely populated locality of Khanyar in the interior city following inputs about the presence of terrorists in the area. The search operation turned into an encounter as the terrorists opened fire at the search party, which retaliated, a police official said.

 

During the operation, a fire broke out in the house where the terrorists were holed up and thick grey smoke was seen billowing into the sky.

 

One terrorist has been gunned down in the ongoing encounter, the officials said.

 

Two Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawans and two policemen were injured in the encounter. They were taken to the Army's 92 Base Hospital and their condition is stated to be stable, the officials said.

 

A senior police officer told PTI that the slain terrorist was a Pakistani and belonged to the LeT.

 

"He has been identified as Usman. He was the senior-most Pakistani LeT commander here," he said.

 

Usman had been active in the Valley for a very long time and was involved in several attacks. His killing is a "major blow" to the LeT in Jammu and Kashmir, he added.

 

"Usman was also involved in the killing of Inspector Masroor Wani," the officer said.

 

Wani was shot dead from close range while he was playing cricket in the Eidgah ground here in October 2023.

 

"Usman was also the right hand of Sajad Gul, the TRF commander based in Pakistan," the officer said.

 

The Resistance Front (TRF) is believed to be a shadow outfit of the LeT.

 

In another ongoing operation, two terrorists were gunned down by the security forces near Halkan Gali in the Shangus-Larnoo area in Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir, according to officials.