JAMMU & KASHMIR. Srinagar. Baramulla: Two top Lashkar-e-Taiba leaders were shot dead in an encounter in J&K’s Baramulla on Thursday, including the longest-living terrorist, Mohammad Yousuf Kantroo.
“Kantroo was involved in a number of civilian deaths as well as attacks on security personnel. He was also behind the killings of a J&K police officer, his brother, an army man, and a civilian in Budgam district recently,” IGP of Kashmir stated.
The killing of Kantroo, according to the IGP, was a huge achievement for the security forces. Kantroo had been linked to terrorism since 2000, according to IGP of Kashmir, and had eluded annihilation for more than two decades.
In 2017, he became involved in a terror-related incident for the first time.
According to the authorities, in addition to Kantroo, another local terrorist has been murdered. “There is a chance that other terrorists are hiding, which is why the operation is presently ongoing,” IGP added.
Following intelligence inputs on their presence in the area, a joint team of police and army began a cordon and search operation in the Malwah area of Baramulla in North Kashmir, resulting in an encounter.
“According to police officials, three soldiers and a civilian were hurt during the initial phase of the encounter. Two to three other terrorists could be hidden in the neighbourhood,” according to police sources.
It’s worth noting that this is the 38th anti-terror operation since January of this year, with security forces killing 53 militants in the Kashmir Valley. So far, there have been 27 active terrorists and 169 terrorist associates detained.
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