News Flash
03 November
Source: PTI
Security forces neutralize senior Lashkar-e-Taiba operative in Srinagar and two PAFF militants in Anantnag
Srinagar – A top Pakistani commander of the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), identified as Usman, and two other terrorists were killed in separate encounters in Jammu and Kashmir's Srinagar and Anantnag districts on Saturday, officials reported.
In Srinagar, security forces launched a cordon-and-search operation in Khanyar, following intelligence on terrorist presence. When the terrorists opened fire, the operation escalated into a gunfight. During the clash, a fire broke out in the building where the militants were holed up. Usman, an active LeT commander known for his involvement in multiple attacks, including the killing of Inspector Masroor Wani, was killed. Four security personnel were injured in this encounter and were hospitalized. This marks the first major operation in Srinagar since 2022.
Meanwhile, in south Kashmir's Anantnag district, two militants affiliated with the People's Anti-Fascist Front (PAFF), an offshoot of Jaish-e-Mohammad, were killed in another anti-terror operation near Halkan Gali. The Army reported the militants were involved in recent attacks, including the killing of Territorial Army Rifleman Hilal Ahmad Bhat. Weapons, including M4 and AK rifles, grenades, and three improvised explosive devices (IEDs), were recovered from the site. The militants were identified as Zahid Rashid and Arbaz Mir, a local youth missing since 2018.
Separately, security forces began a search operation in Bandipora after spotting suspicious movements in the Panar area, but the suspects escaped after firing.
The Inspector General of Police visited injured personnel in the hospital, acknowledging their role in counter-terror operations, as authorities continue efforts to enhance security in the region.