Srinagar, Oct 10: Additional Director General Police Kashmir Range Vijay Kumar on Tuesday said that two terrorists belonging to the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) were eliminated in a meticulously conducted operation in Alshipora, Shopian, by a joint team of Police and security forces. One of the slain terrorists was found to be involved in the killing of Kashmiri Pandit, Sanjay Sharma.
Sanjay Sharma, an ATM Guard, was brutally shot dead by terrorists earlier this year, mere 100 meters away from his residence in Achan Pulwama, as he was on his way to a local market.
Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) for the Kashmir Range, Vijay Kumar, congratulated the joint team of Police and security forces for conducting successful operation in Alshipora area of south Kashmir’s Shopian district without any collateral damage. He termed the operation as a big success.
The two terrorists were identified as Morifat Maqbool and Jazim Farooq alias Abrar, both affiliated with the LeT. Abrar was linked to the case involving the killing of Kashmiri Pandit, Sanjay Sharma.
According to a police spokesperson, the operation was launched based on specific intelligence regarding the presence of terrorists in Alshipora, Shopian. The joint operation involved Shopian Police, Army’s 44RR, and CRPF’s 178BN. As they closed in on the suspected location, the terrorists opened fire on the security forces, leading to an intense encounter.
During the encounter, both Morifat Maqbool and Jazim Farooq @Abrar were killed, and their bodies were subsequently recovered from the encounter site. Police records indicate that both of these terrorists were involved in numerous acts of terror, including attacks on security forces and civilians.
The spokesperson further revealed that Jazim Farooq @Abrar was implicated in a case (FIR No. 14/2023) under sections 302, 307 IPC, 7/27 Arms Act, 16, 18, 20 UAP Act at Police Station Litter, related to the killing of Kashmiri Pandit Sanjay Sharma.
Morifat Maqbool had his share of criminal involvements as well, being named in FIR No. 202/2022 under section 20, 38 ULA(P) Act of Police Station Shopian, and Case FIR No. 250/2022 under section 307 IPC, 7/27 IA Act, 16, 20, 38 ULA (P) Act.
It’s worth noting that another terrorist, Aqib Bhat from Malangpora Pulwama, was killed during an encounter in Padgampora in February 2023.
Meanwhile, police seized incriminating materials, as well as arms and ammunition from the encounter site.
A case under the relevant sections of the law has been registered, and the investigation is ongoing. Authorities urge the public to cooperate with the police until the encounter site is completely sanitized and cleared of any potentially explosive materials.
This successful operation comes shortly after the elimination of two local terrorists affiliated with Hizbul Mujahideen in the Kujjar area of Kulgam district on October 4, 2023.
