One of the top most Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) commanders from North Kashmir was eliminated along with his accomplice in a joint operation conducted by the security forces in Bomai village of Sopore Tehsil, in Baramulla district late on Wednesday night. A soldier of the Indian Army and a civilian also received injuries during the five hour long operation.
So far, 140 terrorists including three dozen foreign terrorists have been neutralised in different anti terrorist operations in the Kashmir valley since January 1, 2022. Lashkar-e Tayyeba and Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorist outfits have suffered major losses with the elimination of their top commanders.
According to a Srinagar based Defence spokesman, " a joint team of Rashtriya Rifles, Sopore Police including Special Operations Group and CRPF Battalion launched a Cordon and Search Operation based on specific intelligence around 6.30 p.m on Wednesday".
"As the security forces surrounded the house, the terrorists hiding inside the building opened heavy fire, even lobbing grenades in an attempt to break the cordon". "The security forces acted swiftly, relocating civilians to safer areas. In the ensuing firefight lasting nearly five hours, the terrorists injured one civilian and one soldier, before being eliminated by security forces", added Defence spokesman.
The slain terrorists were identified as Jaish cadres, Mohd Rafiq Lone (resident of Sopore and North Kashmir commander) and Kaiser Ashraf (resident of Pulwama). Weapons and other war-like stores were recovered.
The injured civilian (identified as Ali Mohd Ganaie of Bomai) and the soldier were evacuated timely to Srinagar and are reported to be out of danger. As per police records, both the killed terrorists were categorized terrorists and involved in several terror crime cases including attacks on security forces and instigating youth to join terror folds. According to police records the killed terrorist Mohammad Rafi Lone had a history of terror crime cases including grenade attack on Police party near TP Bank Sopore in year 2017 and instigating/motivating gullible youth to join terror folds thereby trying to revive the terror folds in Sopore area for which he was earlier booked twice under Public Safety Act (PSA).