Srinagar, Nov 02: A top Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) commander was killed in an encounter in Srinagar’s Khanyar area.
The encounter unfolded in the densely populated Khanyar locality after security forces launched a search operation following intelligence reports about the presence of militants in a residential area.
This encounter marked the end of 30 months without gunfights in Srinagar city. The previous one occurred on April 10, 2022, when security forces killed two militants in Bishember Nagar, Khanyar, approximately two kilometers from the location of Saturday’s gunfight.
The operation was challenging due to the area’s dense population. “We had to evacuate civilians from the area, and since it’s very congested, we took precautions to prevent any residential buildings from catching fire, which could have spread further,” a senior official said.
The official also stated that the militant was moving from one house to another, requiring extra caution during the operation.
Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir, V.K. Birdi, stated that Lashkar commander Usman, also known as Chota Waleed and believed to be from Pakistan, was killed in the encounter at Khanyar. Usman had been active in the region for a long time.
“The operation has now been completed. Security forces have neutralized a militant identified as Usman, the commander of LeT. Four security personnel sustained injuries. He is a foreign terrorist, and investigations have revealed his involvement in the murder of Inspector Masroor,” IGP Birdi said.
Inspector Masroor was attacked on October 29, 2023, at Srinagar’s Eidgah Ground while playing cricket with others. He later succumbed to his injuries on December 07, 2023, at a hospital.
