Srinagar: LeT commander Abu Ismail, who attacked Amarnath Yatra pilgrims in July killing eight people, was shot dead on Thursday along with another Pakistani militant on the outskirts of Srinagar city, police said.
Following information about the presence of militants in Aarigam village, the security forces launched a cordon and search operation in Nowgam area.
“As the security forces tightened the cordon, the hiding militants opened fire, triggering an encounter,” an official said.
Two foreign militants, both Pakistani nationals, were killed. One of them was identified as Abu Ismail, a senior Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) commander who planned and carried out the attack on a bus of Amarnath Yatris in Anantnag district on July 10, police said.
Eight pilgrims were killed and 13 injured in the attack.
Abu Ismail’s killing is seen as a major success by the security forces in their anti-militancy operations.
Earlier, two overground workers of the Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist outfit were arrested on Thursday in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kupwara district, police said.
Two grenades were recovered from Waheed Ahmad Bhat and Muhammad Shafi Mir, who were arrested from Handwara area.
Overground workers provide logistic support to militants by organising their hideouts and by keeping an eye on the movement of security forces.
Major setback for LeT, say Police
The killing of top LeT commander Abu Ismail and his Pakistani associate on Thursday is a major setback for the terror outfit, the Jammu and Kashmir Police said.
Director General of Police S.P. Vaid said: “Police was after him for quite some time and finally we have been able to gun him down.”
Addressing the media separately, Inspector General of Police Munir Ahmad Khan said the elimination of Abu Ismail and his Pakistani associate was a major setback for the Pakistan-backed LeT.
The officer said people across the board had wished that those responsible for the dastardly attack on Amarnath Yatra pilgrims in July that killed eight people should get deserving punishment.
Khan said following intelligence inputs about the presence of Abu Ismail in Aarigam (Nowgam) area on the outskirts of Srinagar, an operation was immediately launched.
“We could establish contact with the hiding militants around 4.15 p.m and after a brief encounter both terrorists were killed,” he said.
The officer said other details of the operation cannot be shared now.
