J-K: LeT hybrid terrorist killed in Anantnag encounter

A Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorist was killed on Sunday amid a clash between security forces and protesters in Jammu and Kashmir’s Anantnag district.

In the early hours of Sunday, security personnel began a cordon and search operation in the Bijbehara neighbourhood of Cheki Dudoo in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district. Earlier, the police detained an individual identified as Sajad Ahmad, a resident of Shirpora Kulgam, after a terrorist died from his injuries in an attack on non-local labourers at Rakhmoman Bijbehara.

“During questioning, he confessed to his involvement in the commission of said terror crimes by using an illegally obtained pistol, which stands recovered on his disclosure. Sajad also confessed to having knowledge about the presence of terrorists at the Cheki Duddo area of Bijbehara,” the police said, adding that following his given inputs, a joint cordon and search operation was launched by the police and army (3RR).

The search party came under heavy fire from terrorists who were hiding as they approached the suspected hideout mentioned by the accused, the police claim, and the accused, Sajad Ahmad Tantray, suffered critical gunshot wounds.

“The injured was immediately shifted to SDH Bijbehara, where doctors declared him dead,” the police further said.

The police also said that the cordon in the whole area has been strengthened with the help of reinforcements, and the search operation in the area is in progress.
“The accused Sajad was earlier a terrorist associate of the proscribed terror outfit LeT, was involved in several criminal cases and was also detained under PSA from June 2019 to December 2019,” read an official statement.

Meanwhile, on the outskirts of Srinagar, Srinagar Police and Army (2RR) detained three hybrid terrorists along with a large consignment of weapons and ammunition, including three AK-47s, two pistols, nine magazines, 200 rounds, and other incriminating materials. There are ongoing additional inquiries into the incident.

A joint cordon and search operation was started by the police and army earlier in the morning based on a specific tip about the presence of illegal weapons and ammunition in the home of one Rafaqat Hussain Shah, the son of Syed Akbar Shah, who lives in the Panjtaran Karnah neighbourhood of Kupwara.

“During the search operation, a huge cache of arms and ammunition, including an 01 pistol, 02 pistol magazines, 16 pistol rounds, 02 hand grenades, 02 detonators, and other incriminating materials, were recovered from the said house. In this regard, a case under relevant sections of law has been registered, and further investigation is in progress,” the police said.