In Jammu-Kashmir, security forces eliminated three Pakistani terrorists in two separate encounters. The first occurred in Srinagar and the second in Anantnag. The forces successfully neutralized the top Pakistani commander of Lashkar-e-Taiba and two other terrorists. Senior police official confirmed that the commander, identified as Usman, had been active in the Kashmir Valley for a decade and was involved in Inspector Masroor Wani's assassination. Last October, Wani was tragically shot at point-blank range while playing cricket in Eidgah grounds.
According to the official, Usman had been active in the valley for over a decade, involved in numerous attacks. His death marks a major blow to Lashkar in Jammu-Kashmir. Usman was one of the most senior Pakistani commanders of Lashkar in the region. During the Srinagar encounter, four security personnel were injured. After receiving intelligence on terrorist presence, security forces launched a cordon and search operation in the densely populated Kaniyar area of the city center.
Source: aajtak
Two CRPF Personnel and Two Policemen Injured
An officer reported the search operation turned into an encounter as terrorists opened fire on the search team, prompting a counterattack. During the encounter, the house sheltering terrorists caught fire, sending plumes of smoke into the sky. Usman was killed in the skirmish. The incident also left two Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel and two policemen wounded, later reported in stable condition after being taken to army's 92 base hospital.
Source: aajtak
First Srinagar Encounter in Two Years
Agencies report this was the first encounter in Srinagar in two years, the previous one taking place in Nowgam in September 2022, resulting in the death of two local Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind militants.
Usman Was Right-Hand Man to TRF Commander Sajjad Gul
According to PTI, a senior officer revealed Usman was also known as the right-hand man to The Resistance Front (TRF) commander Sajjad Gul, based in Pakistan. TRF is believed to be a proxy group of Lashkar. The operation in Srinagar concluded on Saturday evening. Kashmir Police Inspector General (IGP) VK Birdi visited the hospital to assess the condition of injured officers and CRPF personnel, assuring them of full support. IGP Birdi praised their significant contribution to maintaining peace and security in the region.
Source: aajtak
Anantnag Encounter: Two Terrorists Neutralized
A separate encounter occurred in Anantnag district, south Kashmir. Security forces neutralized two terrorists in the Shangas-Larnu area near Halkhan Gali. During a press conference, Brigadier Anirudh Chauhan, Commander of the 2 Sector RR, stated the slain terrorists were part of the People's Anti-Fascist Front (PAFF), a wing of Jaish-e-Mohammed. Chauhan mentioned receiving intel regarding PAFF activities in Anantnag, including the assassination of Territorial Army's Rifleman Hilal Ahmad Bhat on October 8. Intelligence about terrorist presence in Larnu led to the operation. It's noted that Ahmad Bhat was reportedly abducted during a search in a forest area of Anantnag, with another soldier narrowly escaping. Bhat's body was later discovered in the Kazwan forest, Kokernag.
Arms and Ammunition Seized from Terrorists
Military officials reported that two terrorists were killed in the Anantnag encounter. A substantial cache of weapons and ammunition including an M4 rifle, an AK rifle, grenades, and three IEDs (Improvised Explosive Devices) were seized. These were notorious terrorists involved in several attacks on both local and non-local individuals. DIG of South Kashmir Range, Javid Ahmed Mattoo, stated preliminary investigations identified the terrorists as Zahid Rashid from Bijbehara and Arbaaz Mir from Qaimoh. Additionally, the military disclosed ongoing search operations in North Kashmir's Bandipora district following sightings of terrorist activities. The Chinar Corps unit, stationed in Srinagar, reported detecting
