Srinagar, Jan 05: Jammu and Kashmir Police on Friday said that a Lashkar-e-Toiba terrorist was killed in Chotigam of Shopian district, who was involved in the killing of army personnel, two labourers and Kashmiri Pandits.
A police spokesperson said following the specific information regarding the presence of terrorists in village Chotigam area of Shopian, a joint cordon and search operation was launched in the wee hours by Police, Army (34RR) and CRPF (178Bn) in the said area.”
“During the search operation, as the joint party approached the suspected spot, the hiding terrorist fired indiscriminately upon the joint search party, which was retaliated effectively, leading to an encounter.
In the ensuing encounter, 01 terrorist was killed and his body was retrieved from the site of the encounter. He has been identified as Bilal Ahmed Bhat son of Ghulam Rasool Bhat resident of Chek Cholan, affiliated with proscribed terror outfit LeT.
As per police records the killed terrorist was involved in several terror crime cases including the killing of local army personnel namely Umer Fayaz son of Fayaz Ahmad Parray resident of Sudsan Kulgam, who hurled a grenade upon non-local labours in Hermain, resulting in on spot death of two labourers.
He was also involved in the killing of a Kashmiri Pandit namely Sunil Kumar Bhat son of Sri G Bhat & injuring another Kashmiri pandit Pretimber Nath son of Arjun Nath Bhat, both residents of Chotigam Shopian. He was also involved in the attack on local Bal Krishan @Sonu resident of Chotigam. Moreover, he was involved in instigating local youth to join terrorist ranks and induced 12 local youth into the ranks of terrorists, he said.
Besides other terror crimes, he was also involved in the killing of an arrested terrorist who was leading the search party during a CASO at Nowgam in the year 2022, he said.
The police recovered incriminating materials, arms & ammunition including 01 AK series rifle, and 03 magazines were recovered from the site of the encounter.
“All the recovered materials have been taken into case records for further investigation and to probe their complicity in other terror crimes,” he said.
In this regard, the Police have registered a case under relevant sections of law and an investigation has been initiated. People are requested to cooperate with police till the area is completely sanitized and cleared of all the explosive materials, if any, he said
