Shadow Correspondent
Srinagar, Dec 3 :
Security forces shot dead a top Lashkar-e-Taiba militant, who was allegedly involved in the deadliest attack on construction workers in October this year.
The militant was shot dead in an ongoing operation in the upper reaches of Dachigam forest on the outskirts of Srinagar, officials said on Tuesday.
Police said Junaid Ahmed Bhat of LeT, who was involved in civilians killing at Gagangir, Ganderbal and in several other terror attacks was shot dead in the gunbattle in the forest area of Dachigam.
In one of the deadliest attacks on civilians in Kashmir in a long time, seven employees, including a Kashmiri doctor, were killed on October 20 evening in a terror attack on a workers’ camp near the tourist resort of Sonamarg on the strategic Srinagar-Leh highway. Five other workers were also injured in the attack. The attack was widely condemned.
Police announced the killing of LeT’s Junaid in a post on X.
“In the ongoing operation, one #terrorist is killed and has been identified as Junaid Ahmed Bhat ( LeT, Category A). The said terrorist was involved in civilians killing at Gagangir, Ganderbal and several other terror attacks, ” Police said.
“Operation continues in the upper reaches of Dachigam by J&K Police along with Joint Parties of RR and Security Forces, ” it added.
The gunbattle was erupted on Monday evening when joint teams of Police and Army launched a cordon and a search operation (CASO) in the upper reaches of Dachigam forest following a specific intelligence input about militant presence in the area.
During the search operation, a contact with the hiding militants was established last evening triggering a gunbattle.
This is the second gunbattle on the outskirts of Srinagar in just over three weeks.
On November 10, a brief gunfight occurred in the forest area of Dachigam. However, the militants managed to escape, taking advantage of the dense forest cover. The search operation was subsequently called off.
Dachigam forest is located close to Srinagar, and connects further to south Kashmir and Central Kashmir areas.
