The security forces shot dead a top-ranking Pakistani militant of banned lashkar-e-Tayyeba (leT) outfit, believed to be the mastermind of Udhampur attack on Border Security Force convoy and killing of a counter-insurgency police officer in a brief encounter in south Kashmir’s Kulgam district. Police said the death of Abdur Rahman alias Abu Qasim is a “major success” and big jolt to leT.
Abu Qasim was active in the Valley for the past five years who played a major role in reviving the leT outfit in north and south Kashmir after the death of Abdullah Uni, another dreaded militant, who was killed in September 2011. Sources said Qasim was technology-savvy and a meticulous planner who successfully executed several high-profile attacks on security forces.
Inspector General of Police (Kashmir range) Javed Gilani said that Abu Qasim was shot dead at Khandaypora village in Kulgam district in pursuit to specific information about his presence in the area. “The cordon and search operation turned into an encounter in which a militant identified as Abu Qasim was killed”, Gilani said. “Abdul Rehman alias Abu Qasim son of Abdul Majeed was a resident of Bhawalpur Multan (Pakistan). He was functioning as Divisional Commander of leT outfit. He was active since last 5 years and was involved in a number of militant activities”, he said.
The police and National Investigation Agency (NIA) had separately announced a bounty of Rs10 lakh each on his head. The NIA announced the cash reward after his name surfaced in the conspiracy to attacking a BSF convoy on August 5, in which two BSF men and a Pakistani militant were killed while another militant was captured alive.
“Abu Qasim was mastermind of the Udhampur attack on the BSF convoy. He was also involved in the killing of a sub-inspector of Police Mohammad Altaf Dar in Bandipora on October 7. He was part of the leT squad which carried out fidayeen attack at Hyderpora
Srinagar bypass in which 8 jawans were killed”, Gilani said.
Gilani said that on Abu Qasim’s directions, leT cadre shot dead prominent cardiologist and former Director of Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences Dr S Jalal and his bodyguard in south Kashmir’s Pampore town in 2013. “He was also involved in a number of attacks on security forces in south Kashmir region”, Gilani said.
Sources said that columns of Police, 9 Rashtriya Rifles and CRPF cordoned off Khandaypora village at around midnight after receiving input about the presence of militants. At around 2 am, some gunshots were heard in the area. Some reports said that militants were ambushed and fired upon, which resulted into death of Abu Qasim while his accomplices fled from the scene.
Police sources said Qasim had a group of around 20 young boys, both locals and Pakistanis. He had been operating from the forest areas of Shopian and Kulgam of South Kashmir, where there has been a surge in recruitment of Kashmiri youth in militant ranks recently. “The militants who would cross over to Kashmir were given shelter by him,” said a police official. “He gave instructions to them on how and where to strike.”