PHOTO BY || JAHANGIR SHAH | KNO
The encounter ensued after a joint team of Police and 50 RR cordoned off the area following inputs about the presence of terrorists. As the security forces tightened the cordon, the hiding terrorists opened fire on the security forces triggering an encounter.
Two foreign terrorists, both Pakistan nationals, were killed in this encounter, including Abu Ismail, the top LeT commander, who planned and carried out the attack on a bus of Amarnath Yatris in Batengoo area of Anantnag district on July 10 this year that left eight pilgrims dead. The other terrorist killed in this encounter was Abu Qasim alias Chotta Qasim.
15 FIRs were lodged against Abu Ismail and he was involved in number of terror attacks in south Kashmir, including several on Police and other security forces. He was involved in several attacks on security forces convoys at Sempora (One CRPF personnel martyred), Zewan Crossing (One Police personnel martyred), Nowgam (One CRPF personnel got injured), Pampore (Three soldiers martyred) and K.P. Road (Two police personnel martyred). Moreover, he was involved in grenade attacks on Army camp at Kakapora and Police Post Kakapora. He was also involved in recent grenade attack at Lal Chowk in which one civilian lost his life and 25 civilians got injured. Furthermore, he was involved in bank robberies at J&K Bank branches of Malpora Charisharief, Arihal Pulwama and Ratnipora Pulwama. Besides, he was also involved in killing of Sarpanches of Kandizal and Kakapora.
Two AK 47 rifles and some other materials were seized from the slain terrorists.