Shopian Encounter: Top Pakistani JeM Terrorist, Associate Killed

Munna Lahori, a Pakistani national, was also responsible for a series of civilian killings in Kashmir, a police official said.

Photo: Representational. PTI

SRINAGAR: Two militants, including a top Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) commander from Pakistan responsible for a car blast last month that claimed the lives of two Army jawans, were killed on Saturday in an encounter with security forces in Jammu and Kashmir's Shopian district, police said. Munna Lahori, a Pakistani national, was also responsible for a series of civilian killings in Kashmir, a police official said. The second militant, identified as Mir Zeenat-Ul-Islam of Turkawanghom Shopian, belonged to Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) outfit, the official said. Lahori, also known as Bihari, had been used by Pakistan-based JeM for the recruitment of militants in the Kashmir valley, the official said. He was known for making Improvised Explosive Devices. Lahori was responsible for a car blast attack on a security forces' convoy on March 30 at Banihal and "a fatal car blast on an Army vehicle at Arihal in Pulwahma on June 17, in which two soldiers were killed and nine others including two civilians were injured", the official said. He said Zeenat-Ul-Islamwas part of groups involved in terror crimes. Several cases were registered against him, including a case pertaining to abduction and killing of civilian Irfan Hameed of Zainapora. The security forces had launched a cordon and search operation in Banday Mohalla in Bonbazar area of Shopian Friday night, followinga tip-off about the presence of militants there. The search operation turned into an encounter after the militants opened fire, leading to their killing, he said, adding that incriminating material including arms and ammunition were recovered from the site of the gunfight. In another unrelated incident on Saturday morning, Lance Naik Rajender Singh of 57 Rashtriya Rifles was killed in a ceasefire violation by Pakistan on the Line of Control in Machil sector of Kupwara district. "Lance Naik Rajender Singh suffered critical injuries in unprovoked Pakistan firing. He was taken to a nearby medical facility, but he succumbed to critical injuries," sources said.