Pulwama: In what could be the major crackdown for the security forces, a terrorist who is believed to be a key planner in the terror attack in Pulwama, is among the three Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terrorist killed in an encounter in Tral area in south Kashmir.
According to reports, Mudasir Ahmed Khan alias ‘Mohd Bhai’ is suspected to have arranged the vehicle and explosives used in the suicide attack that killed 40 CRPF personnel.
Two AK-47 rifles and a pistol were recovered from the spot. The search operation is underway.
Khan had been in constant contact with suicide attacker Adil Ahmed Dar, who rammed an explosive-laden car onto the CRPF convoy. The National Investigation Agency (NIA), which is probing the Pulwama terror attack, carried out searches at his residence on February 27.
Reports further suggest that the 23-year-old terrorist was an electrician with a graduate degree and a resident of Pulwama. He initially joined Jaish as an overground worker in 2017, but was later drawn into the terror outfit by Noor Mohammed Tantrey, alias ”Noor Trali”, who is believed to have helped the terror group’s revival in the Kashmir valley.
The gunfight broke out after the forces launched a cordon and search operation in the area acting on a tip-off on the presence of terrorists, officials said.
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On March 7, one terrorist was killed in Handwara in an encounter. The state police said that the terrorist was a Pakistan national and was affiliated with Jaish-e-Mohammed.