A joint team of security forces on Wednesday eliminated three Lashkar-e-Tayyeba (LeT) terrorists including a self-styled commander Lateef Rather, responsible for killing a Kashmiri pandit employee Rahul Bhat and TV artist Amreen Bhat, near Waterhail area of Budgam. Additional Director General of Police, Vijay Kumar termed the elimination of Lateef Rather as a big success for the security forces in the area. Kumar said, "Lateef Rather alias Abdullah was involved in several terror crime cases including civilian killings and atrocities". "Lateef was behind the killing of Rahul Bhat and Amreen Bhat", Kumar added.
According to police, the anti terrorist operation was launched in the Waterhail area of Budgam in the wee hours of Wednesday. As the security forces tightened the cordon and zeroed in on the suspected hideout of LeT Terrorists the security forces were fired upon leading to an encounter in which all three terrorisrs were eliminated.
Meanwhile, alert security forces also averted a tragedy in the South Kashmir district of Pulwama by timely detecting and detonating 25 to 30 Kgs of IED near Tahab crossing on a circular road in Pulwama on Wednesday.