Top Lashkar-e-Taiba or LeT commander Waseem Shah is among two terrorist who have been killed in a gunfight with security forces in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district today. 23-year-old Waseem Shah was the main strategist who planned last year's unrest in south Kashmir. He also went by the name 'Abu Osama'.
Security forces launched an operation early in the morning today after receiving specific intelligence inputs about the presence of terrorists in Litter village in Pulwama district. The area of the encounter has been cordoned off, Jammu and Kashmir police said.
The encounter broke out after the terrorists fired at the approaching security personnel. Two terrorists -- Waseem Shah and Nisar Ahmed Mir -- have been killed and the security forces have recovered an AK-47 and an AK-56 along with 6 Avtomat Kalashnikova or AK magazines. Today's encounter in Pulwama's Litter area was the first counter-insurgency operation in the village in four years.
The Lashkar commander, along with his bodyguard Nisar Ahmed Mir tried to run away from the security forces, but could not breach the strong security cordon comprising the CRPF and Indian Army.
Waseem Shah, who was responsible for recruiting young people to join the LeT, had been carrying a Rs 10 lakh cash reward on his head. Apart from being the "chief architect" of last years unrest in south Kashmir, the top LeT commander had planned several attacks on security forces.
Pulwama and Shopian districts have seen a rise in unrest after terrorists have been killed during anti-terror operations. Terror groups like Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba have been carrying out recruitment operations in these districts by disillusioning the youth.
2 Terrorists Killed In Encounter With Security Forces In J&K's Pulwama Terrorist Killed In Encounter With Security Forces In J&K's Pulwama Terrorist Killed In Encounter In Jammu And Kashmir's Pulwama Vandalism At Kolkata Hospital Where Doctor Was Raped, Tear Gas Fired Starbucks' Indian-Origin CEO, Recently Fired, Never Worked Past 6 pm 150 mg Semen In Kolkata Doctor's Body, Suspect Gang-Rape: Parents To Court Independence Day 2024 Live Updates: PM Modi To Address Nation From Red Fort PM Modi To Address Nation From Red Fort On 78th Independence Day Today Delhi Airport Becomes 1st To Achieve Net Zero Carbon Emission Status Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.