New Delhi: A Lashkar-e-Taiba commander, the mastermind behind the Dhangri and Kandi terror attacks was killed, along with an associate, on Thursday in the dense jungles of Kalakote in Rajouri district. Officials confirm the death of another Indian Army soldier in the event, adding to the count of two army officers and two soldiers who gave their lives in the line of duty on Wednesday.
The LeT commander, a Pakistani national, possessed expertise in sniping and guerrilla warfare, along with proficiency in handling IEDs.
“A top LeT commander identified as Qari, the mastermind behind Dhangri and, along with his associate was killed in the Baajimal-Kalakote area on Thursday during an encounter with the security forces,” said a police spokesperson.
The Dhangri attack on January 1 and 2 resulted in the death of seven members of the Hindu community. On May 5, an encounter in the Kandi forest in Rajouri led to the death of at least five soldiers.
“The deceased terrorist was dispatched to rekindle terrorism in the region, demonstrating expertise in IEDs, guerrilla warfare tactics within caves, and possessing sniper training,” explained the spokesperson.
Incriminating items, including weapons and ammunition, were discovered in his possession.
“During further searches, Quari’s associate was also killed. The dead bodies of both the terrorists have also been retrieved and taken for further medico-legal formalities,” he added.
The area is undergoing a comprehensive search to identify any other potentially suspicious items or support structures.
Another soldier lost his life in action on Thursday, bringing the army’s casualties to five, as stated by officials.
The five have been identified as Captain MV Pranjal from Mangalore in Karnataka, Captain Shubham Gupta from Agra in Uttar Pradesh, Havaldar Abdul Majid from Ajote in Poonch, Lance Naik Sanjay Bisht from Halli Padli in Nainital, Uttarakhand, and paratrooper Sachin Laur from Nagaliya Giurola in Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh.
The two terrorists in Kalakote were initially observed in the residence of a deceased religious leader on Sunday, seeking food, according to an unnamed official.
“The two terrorists including Qari had visited the house on Sunday where they were seen talking to women for food. A video had also gone viral,” said the person.
In the Bajimaal area on Tuesday, the terrorists assaulted a nomad, Sarfaraz Ahmed when he refused to provide them with food. Sarfaraz, who was later beaten, played a crucial role by informing the security forces about the terrorists attempting to escape.
“While security forces were busy laying cordon around the suspected area, terrorists, who by then were well entrenched atop hills in Solki, had opened heavy fire from their automatic weapons that took a heavy toll on our officers and soldiers,” said sources.
Last week, a terrorist was killed in an encounter with security forces in the forest area of Budhal in Rajouri district.
On September 12 and 13, security forces gunned two terrorists in the Narla area of Rajouri district.
On September 11, Northern Army commander Lt General Dwivedi informed at the North Tech Symposium that nearly 200 terrorists were waiting across the LoC in Pakistan.
“They are waiting to infiltrate but our alert troops are deployed at the borders and we are trying to eliminate them there itself,” he had said.
Last week, security forces engaged in an encounter with a terrorist in the forested region of Budhal in Rajouri district, resulting in the terrorist’s death.
Security forces, on September 12 and 13, successfully eliminated two terrorists in the Narla area of Rajouri district.
On September 11, Lt General Dwivedi, the Northern Army commander, disclosed during the North Tech Symposium that approximately 200 terrorists were positioned along the Line of Control (LoC) in Pakistan.
(With inputs from agencies)