Top LeT militant killed in encounter in Kashmir: police

(Eds: Repeating with minor edits)Srinagar, Oct 14 (PTI) Top Lashkar-e-Taiba militantWaseem Shah, believed to be the main architect of the unrestl...
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(Eds: Repeating with minor edits)Srinagar, Oct 14 (PTI) Top Lashkar-e-Taiba militantWaseem Shah, believed to be the main architect of the unrestlast year in south Kashmir, was killed along with hisaccomplice by security forces in an encounter early thismorning in Pulwama district, police said.

Shah, 23, also known as 'Abu Osama Bhai' was killed atLitter area in Pulwama, a place considered to be a safe havenfor militants. This is the first counter-insurgency operationin Litter area in four years.

Jammu and Kashmir police had been tracking the movementsof Shah, who is considered as the 'don' of Heff, anotherstronghold of militants in South Kashmir's Shopiandistrict.

After information that he was at his hideout at Litter,police and its special operation group team cordoned off thearea, police said.

Shah along with his bodyguard Nisar Ahmed Mir made anattempt to flee but could not penetrate the cordon which hadbeen strengthened by the presence of the CRPF and Army, theysaid.

Shah, who was wanted in various terror-related cases, waskilled along with Nisar, another local who had joinedmilitancy in May this year.

Shah, a resident of Heff-Shrimal in Shopian, joinedmilitancy in 2014 and was considered as the 'chief architect'of last year's unrest in various parts of South Kashmir.

Born in a middle class family of Gul Mohammed Shah, whoran a fruit business, Shah was a college dropout and an activesupporter of Lashkar-e-Taiba militant group since his schooldays when he had doubled up as a courier boy for the outfit,police said.

Of late, Shah, who carried a cash reward of Rs 10 lakhon his head, was recruiting fresh cadres for the militantoutfit.

He had been involved in various attacks on securityforces in south Kashmir, police said. PTI SKLUZM.

This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.

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