Lashkar Commander Among 3 Terrorists Killed In Separate Encounters In J&K

Security forces gunned down three terrorists in encounters in the Jammu and Kashmir's Anantnag and Khanyar which started earlier today. 

Four police personnel have been injured in the encounter in Khanyar and one terrorist has been killed. Meanwhile, the force launched an anti-terrorist operation in the Halkan Gali area of Anantnag and two terrorists have been shot down. The terrorist killed in Khanyar has been identified as Usman alias Chota Walid and is a top commander of Lashkar from Pakistan.

The forces have started a combing and search operation in the Bandipora area of Jammu and Kashmir. 

The anti-terrorist operations follow a terror attack on two migrant workers a day earlier. The two men from Uttar Pradesh were shot at in Budgam district - the fourth such targeted attack on migrants in the Kashmir Valley in the last two weeks.

The deadliest attack was on October 20 when seven people - including a local doctor and two workers from Bihar - were shot dead by terrorists at a tunnel construction site in Ganderbal district.

National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah, whose son Omar Abdullah took charge as the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir last month, said the surge in terror attacks could be an attempt to destabilise the newly formed government and demanded an independent probe.

Last week, on October 29, security forces shot down three terrorists responsible for attacking an Army vehicle in Jammu and Kashmir's Akhnoor sector a day before. The operation spanned 27 hours and concluded early in the morning.

In the operation, the Army lost 'Phantom', an assault dog part of the elite K9 unit who drew enemy fire, sustaining bullet injuries.

"We salute the supreme sacrifice of our true hero, a valiant Indian Army dog, Phantom," the 16 Corps, known as the White Knight Corps, said in honour of the four-year-old dog.