Accident – death – Obituary News :

Suspected LeT Terrorist killed in Encounter in Shopian, South Kashmir

Srinagar, January 5 – Law enforcement agencies successfully eliminated a terrorist belonging to the banned terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) in an anti-terror operation conducted in the Chotigam area of Shopian district in south Kashmir, officials confirmed today.

Based on specific intelligence about the presence of the terrorist, a joint cordon and search operation was launched in the early hours by the local police, Indian Army’s 34 Rashtriya Rifles (RR), and Central Reserve Police Force’s (CRPF) 178 Battalion, stated a police spokesperson.

As the joint search party approached the suspected location, the hiding terrorist opened fire indiscriminately, prompting the security forces to retaliate effectively, leading to an encounter.

“During the encounter, the security forces managed to neutralize one terrorist, identified as Bilal Ahmed Bhat, son of Ghulam Rasool Bhat, a resident of Chek Cholan. He was affiliated with the proscribed terror outfit LeT,” the spokesperson added.

According to police records, the slain terrorist was involved in several acts of terror, including the killing of Umer Fayaz, a local army personnel from Sudsan Kulgam. He also carried out a grenade attack on non-local laborers in Hermain, resulting in the immediate death of two laborers.

The terrorist was further responsible for the targeted killing of Kashmiri pandit Sunil Kumar Bhat and the injury of another Kashmiri pandit, Pretimber Nath, both residents of Chotigam Shopian. Additionally, he had attacked a local named Bal Krishan, also from Chotigam. Moreover, he played a significant role in radicalizing and recruiting 12 local youths into the terrorist ranks. Notably, he was involved in the killing of an arrested terrorist who was leading the search party during a cordon and search operation in Nowgam in 2022.

During the encounter, the security forces recovered incriminating materials, arms, and ammunition, including an AK series rifle and three magazines, from the encounter site. These pieces of evidence have been taken into case records for further investigation and to determine their involvement in other terror activities.

Following the encounter, the police have registered a case under relevant sections of the law and initiated an investigation. The spokesperson also urged the public to cooperate with the police until the area is completely sanitized and cleared of any remaining explosive materials.

This successful operation against the LeT terrorist signifies a major blow to the terror network in the region and reinforces the commitment of the security forces to maintain peace and security in Kashmir.

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