Police said Waseem Shah was a district commander of LeT. He had joined militant ranks in March 2014 was involved in number of cases including murder. His associate Nisar had joined militant ranks in 2017.
Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) suffered a major setback on Saturday when security forces killed two of its top commanders including a prime recruiter in an encounter at Litter village of South Kashmir's Pulwama district.
Hours after the encounter, the terror outfit ambushed a Jammu and Kashmir police convoy, killing one police officer, Khurshid Ahmad Tak, and injuring two others, at Nandimarg village in South Kashmir's Kulgam.
Police said LeT district commander Waseem Ahmad Shah alias Abu Osama of Heff Shirmal village in Shopian district was killed along with his associate Nisar Ahmad Mir by a joint team of Pulwama Police, 3rd and 55th battalion of Rashtriya Riffles (RR), 182nd and 183rd battalion of CRPF.
"We got specific inputs about two LeT terrorists, who were hiding in a house of a slain militant Pinto Malik. When we were laying the cordon, their presence was established. Civilians who came out of the house confirmed the same," said Munir Ahmad Khan, inspector general of police (IGP), Kashmir Zone.
Police also recovered two AK Riffles, magazines and ammunition from the hideout.
Police said Waseem Shah was a district commander of LeT. He had joined militant ranks in March 2014 was involved in number of cases including murder. His associate Nisar had joined militant ranks in 2017.
Sources said Waseem Shah was a close friend and aide of Burhan Wani and he featured in the famous photo of11 militants posing in army fatigues. This picture became viral and it was Burhan Wani first attempt to romanticize militancy using social media as propagation tool. Of the 11 militants, nine including Waseem Shah and Burhan Wani have been killed while as Tariq Pandit surrendered before the security forces while Sadam Padroo is still active.
Hours later, militants ambushed the police vehicles leaving a policeman dead and two others injured near Nandimarg. Police said militant attack was aimed at snatching the weapons which was foiled the police team that was returning from duties at the Medical camp.
"During the attack the driver of vehicle Khurshid Ahmad Tak got injured in the firing of the militants. Despite being injured he displayed conspicuous act of courage by successfully taking the vehicle out of arch of fire and saved life of others. He attained martyrdom in the process", said a police spokesman.
Police said perpetrators behind the attack have been identified. "Gulzar Paddar group and Umar Majid Ganie group of Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist outfit are behind this attack", said the spokesman
Firing was so heavy that the police vehicles skidded of the road. Entire area has been cordoned off and massive hunt has been launched to nab the militants.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Khurshid Ahmad Tak")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}