6 LeT ultras killed in Bandipora encounter

Srinagar: Six terrorists of the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), including the nephew of 26/11 Mumbai attacks mastermind Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, were killed by the security forces in North Kashmir's Bandipora district. A Garud commando of the Indian Air Force (IAF) was also martyred in the operation.

Director General of Police SP Vaid confirmed on Twitter that one of the militants killed, identified only as ‘Owaid’, was Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi’s nephew, and that all six militants killed were from Pakistan and affiliated to terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiba. The development comes as a big boost for the security forces in the Valley.

Security forces cordoned off and launched a search operation in Chandergeer village in Hajin area of Bandipora district after receiving specific intelligence input about the presence of terrorists in the area, a police official said. As search operations were going on, the terrorists hiding there fired at the security forces, who retaliated befittingly.

Lakhvi, a close relative of LeT founder Hafiz Mohammad Saeed and its operations commander, is accused of planning and executing strikes on India’s financial capital on November 26, 2008 that killed 166 people and wounded hundreds.

“Great success for security forces!” Vaid tweeted, adding that weapons and ammunition had been recovered. Other than Owaid, Vaid said LeT commanders “Zargam” and “Mehmood” were also killed. Mehmood is accused of murdering a Border Security Force (BSF) constable in his home in Hajin, Bandipora, when the latter was on leave from duty in September.

Saturday’s encounter was the latest in a series of high-profile operations by the security forces that has resulted in the deaths of at least 10 other militants this month alone.