Operating in the Valley since 2009, the slain Pakistani terrorist was the mastermind behind the foiled Pathankot-type fidayeen attack on 182nd BSF camp on October 3.
Security forces dealt a major blow to Moulana Masood Azhar-led Jaish-e-Mohommad (JeM) on Monday when they killed its top terrorist and mastermind, behind the recent fidayeen (suicidal) attacks, Khalid alias Shahid Showkat in a brief encounter at Ladoora village in North Kashmir's Baramulla district. Elsewhere, a Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) of the Army and a terrorist were killed in two different incidents in the Valley.
Police said that they acted upon specific information about the movement of Khalid in Ladoora, Sopore. They laid a covert naka at Woveri Mohalla Ladoora. "Terrorists fired upon the naka party which retaliated. During this, Khalid was injured. However, he managed to escape from the spot and entered a house. The naka party immediately cordoned off the house and the CRPF and the Army also joined the operation. During the search, Khalid fired upon the search party. However, in the ensuing encounter he was killed," said a police spokesman.
Operating in the Valley since 2009, the slain Pakistani terrorist was the mastermind behind the foiled Pathankot-type fidayeen attack on 182nd BSF camp on October 3. Police said Khalid was also the mastermind behind the attacks on District Police Lines Pulwama on August 26 in which eight security force men — four each from CRPF and Jammu and Kashmir Police — were killed and six others injured in the encounter. He was also involved in the attack on 46 Rashtriya Riffles Army Camp at Khajabagh Baramulla in 2016. "Khalid was constantly exploring opportunities to attack the security establishments. He was motivating boys for execution of grenade attacks against monetary benefits on behalf of Pakistan-based JeM commanders," said the police spokesperson.
Police said he was also involved in the recent attack on SPO Altaf Ahmad Khan at Hajin Handwara in which Khan and his six-year-old son were seriously injured.
"He along with his associates were involved in killing of tower guard Eidul Amin Mir of Sopore, Fayaz Ahmad Rather, Suhail Ahmad Dar in Watergam Orchards and Sarpanch Ghulam Nabi Khawaja of Kralgund," he said.
In a separate incident on Monday, an Army JCO was killed when terrorists attacked the patrol at the general area of Drang-Beerwa in Budgam district of Central Kashmir. "Subedar Raj Kumar sustained bullet injury during a late night operation in Drang Village. He was provided immediate first aid but unfortunately succumbed to his injuries later," said Colonel Rajesh Kalia, defence spokesman at Srinagar. Hailing from Khanni village in Himachal Pradesh, Subedar Raj Kumar, 47, is survived by his wife Toshi Devi and two sons.
In another encounter, security forces killed three terrorists after they received a tip-off about the presence of group of ultras in Gatipora village in Shopian district. Police said the encounter is underway with other holed up terrorists. Meanwhile, a minor boy was seriously injured after miscreants pelted stones on vehicles near Pahoo Bridge in Pulwama district of south Kashmir.
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