Security forces successfully neutralized a Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorist during an encounter in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday, marking the first such operation in over three months.
The operation was launched following specific intelligence inputs regarding the presence of terrorists in Fressipora village, Rajpora area of south Kashmir’s Pulwama district, as confirmed by a police spokesperson.
Upon approaching the targeted area, terrorists opened fire on the security forces, prompting a retaliatory response that led to an encounter resulting in the death of one terrorist.
The slain terrorist was identified as Danish Sheikh, a resident of Srinagar, affiliated with the proscribed The Resistance Front (TRF), which is an offshoot of LeT, according to the police spokesperson.
Arms, ammunition, and other incriminating materials were recovered from the encounter site.
This encounter in Pulwama marks the first gunfight in the Kashmir valley’s hinterland since early January, highlighting a notable lull in such operations for over three months. The last encounter before this took place on January 5 in Shopian district, where an LeT terrorist was killed.
While encounters had been relatively infrequent in recent months, security forces thwarted an infiltration attempt on April 5 in the Uri sector of Baramulla district, resulting in the elimination of a terrorist.
A case has been registered, and investigations are underway following Thursday’s successful encounter in Pulwama, underscoring the continued efforts of security forces to maintain peace and security in the region.