Fazil Mir
Srinagar, Dec 03 (NVI): Security forces today achieved a major success in Kashmir as they killed a top commander of Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) who was involved in several terror acts, including the killing of 7 civilians at a tunnel construction site in Gagangir area of Ganderbal district on October 20.
The terrorist, identified as Junaid Ramzan Bhat of Qaimoh village of Kulgam district of South Kashmir, was eliminated in an overnight encounter in the Dachigam forest in Harwan area of Srinagar district, according to the Jammu and Kashmir Police.
On October 20, six non-Kashmiri labourers and a local doctor, were killed when terrorists carried out an attack near the site of the tunnel project in Gagangir in Ganderbal district, resulting in a national outrage.
The gunfight in Dachigam, known for a Wildlife Sanctuary, started last evening after security forces launched a search operation on the basis of a specific intelligence input about presence of terrorists there.
This morning, the police announced that one terrorist was killed in the encounter and he was identified as Junaid Ahmed Bhat, a Category A terrorist of LeT.
“#OPDachigam: 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.
“Operation continues in the upper reaches of Dachigam by J&K Police along with Joint Parties of RR and Security Forces. Further details shall follow,” Kashmir Police posted on X.
The attack at the construction site in Gagangir had triggered concerns about the safety of the workers engaged in the infrastructure development work there.
After the attack, J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha had visited the Gagangir construction site and interacted with officers and workers of the Project Implementing Agency and to review the security measures on the project site.
In the meeting, the Lieutenant Governor had underlined the need for protecting the vital infrastructure projects across J&K UT and putting in place a multi-pronged and foolproof mechanism for coordination with project implementing agencies to prevent security breaches.
The Lieutenant Governor had emphasised the need for stricter access control and regular patrolling around the project sites. (NVI)
