J&K: In a major success for security forces, Jaish-e-Mohammed commander Sajjad Bhat was killed in an intense encounter this morning. Bhatt along with other terrorists had triggered an improvised explosive device (IED) fitted in a vehicle near an Army patrol in the militancy-hit Pulwama district of south Kashmir on Monday. Nine Army personnel and two civilians were injured in the terror attack.

Bhat had also played a key role in February 14 terror attack. He was the owner of the vehicle which was used in the attack on a CRPF convoy in Awantipora which killed 40 jawans.

The IED attack mastermind was killed during encounter with forces at Marhama Bijbihara along with another Jaish militant. Unfortunately, a security jawan walso died during the gun battle fighting the terrorists.


The site of the blast in Pulwama was 27 km from the area where a convoy of vehicles carrying CRPF personnel was attacked by a suicide bomber in February in which 40 jawans were killed.

On Monday, an Army major was killed and another officer and two troopers were injured in an encounter with militants in the district's Achabal area. A terrorist was also killed, reported PTI.



Sajjad Bhat's role in Feb 14 terror attack

A Maruti Eeco, a multi-purpose vehicle, was used in the blast on February 14, the NIA said. The vehicle was allegedly driven by Adil Ahmad Dar.

An NIA spokesperson said the car exchanged hands seven times before it reached Sajjad, a resident of Anantnag’s Bijbehara, on February 4, 10 days before the attack.

Sajjad’s house was raided on February 23 but he was not there, the spokesperson said. Police sources said he had studied at a seminary in Shopian, reported The Telegraph.