Indian Army, Paramilitary Forces, and J&K Police Joint Operation Eliminates Top Lashkar-e-Taiba Commander in Rajouri Encounter

In a successful joint operation, the Indian Army, paramilitary forces, and Jammu and Kashmir Police have eliminated two foreign terrorists belonging to the proscribed militant organization Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), including its top commander. The encounter took place in Rajouri, a district in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir.

The slain LeT terrorist leader, known as ‘Quari’, had been active in the Rajouri-Poonch area for a considerable period of time, according to officials. Their continuous movement in the region had been the subject of intelligence reports, leading to relentless efforts by various agencies to neutralize them.

The operation was launched on the night of November 19, following a confirmed input about the presence of the high-ranked LeT leader, ‘Quari’, and his accomplice in the Kalakot area. The Indian Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police, and intelligence agencies coordinated their efforts to carry out the operation successfully.

Utilizing advanced technology, such as unmanned aerial vehicles, night-enabled cameras, and other surveillance equipment, the security forces maintained continuous surveillance of the area throughout the operation.

The encounter spanned over two days, with one terrorist being eliminated on November 22 and the second on the following day. Tragically, the operation also resulted in the loss of five security personnel, including two Army captains, who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty.

Officials have revealed that ‘Quari’, the LeT commander, was one of the most wanted terrorists in the region. He had received training in both Pakistan and Afghanistan. ‘Quari’ is believed to be the mastermind behind the civilian killings in Dhangri earlier this year and the attack on security forces in Kandi.

While the encounter has concluded, the search operation in the forest area of Rajouri is still ongoing, as announced by the Army on Friday.

Brigadier Soumeet Patnaik, the Commander of 14 Sector Rashtriya Rifles, informed that during the encounter, the security forces successfully evacuated trapped civilians, including women and children, from the vicinity. He paid heartfelt tributes to the five fallen soldiers, emphasizing that their ultimate sacrifice for the country serves as a constant motivation to eradicate terrorism.