Security forces on Thursday shot dead a top-ranking terrorist of banned lashkar-e-Tayyeba (leT) outfit in Kashmir. The slain terrorist is reportedly nephew of leT leader Zaki-ur-Rahman lakhvi, the mastermind of Mumbai terror attacks.
Police said an encounter triggered off between security forces and terrorists after a locality was cordoned off in Hajin Village of North Kashmir’s Bandipora District following information that a group of terrorists was hiding there. During the gunfight Abu Musaib, “district commander” of leT outfit was killed. A member of the police Special Operations Group identified as Vikas Sharma was injured during the gunfight. Sources said another terrorist holed up in the area, managed to break the cordon to escape.
Eyewitnesses said that hundreds of local people marched towards the encounter amid biting cold to help the militants escape. However, the security forces kept the agitating people at a distance despite being hit by stones and bricks. The security forces fired automatic weapons in air to disperse the protesters.
The security forces refused to hand over the body of the slain militant to the people. The locals later organised funeral prayers in absentia. The authorities have ordered not to hand-over bodies of foreign militants to locals for burial. The bodies are taken to border town of Uri for burial in an abandoned graveyard.
At least five encounters have taken place in Hajin area during the past two months resulting into death of three militants including Abu Musaib. At three occasions, militants managed to escape from the cordoned area.