SRINAGAR: In yet another major jolt for Lashkar-e-Toiba, a top commander of Pakistan-based militant outfit was killed in an encounter with security forces in North Kashmir on Wednesday. An army man sustained injuries in the firefight.
A police officer said acting on a specific information regarding presence of militants in village Hamlapati, Zachaldara, Handwara in North Kashmir’s border district of Kupwara, police, paramilitary and army men launched a joint combing operation in the area this afternoon to flush out the militants hiding there.
He said during the combing operation, militants fired upon the search party. “The fire was returned by the security men, triggering an encounter. In the ensuing firefight, a Lashkar commander was killed and an army man injured”.
The official identified the deceased as LeT Divisional Commander Abu Musa and said an AK rifle and two magazines recovered from the encounter site.
“He (Abu Musa) was operating in Kupwara forest felt since 2012. He was involved in killing of a police Head Constable and attack on Army convoy in Baramulla last year,” he said.
He termed Musa’s death as a major jolt to the LeT.
An army spokesman said the army man injured in the gunfight is out of danger. “After suffering gunshot wounds, he wound evacuated to Army base hospital in Srinagar”.