Srinagar: A top Pakistani terrorist commander of the Jaish-e-Mohammad, who is related to terror mastermind JeM chief Masood Azhar, was one of the terrorists killed in an early morning encounter between militants and security forces in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district, officials said on Saturday.

IG Kashmir Vijay Kumar has congratulated the army and police for the successful anti-terror operation

“Top most Pakistani terrorist affiliated with proscribed terror outfit JeM, Lamboo, killed in today’s encounter,” police said.

Police said the second slain terrorist has been identified as Sameer Ahmad Dar alias Hanzala Jihadi, resident of Gundibagh, Kakapora Pulwama and was affiliated with proscribed terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed.

“As per police records, Sameer Dar alias Hanzala Jihadi was A+ category terrorist and also figured among the list of most wanted terrorists operating in the Valley. He was also involved in 2019 Lethpora Fidayeen attack and figured in NIA’s chargesheet,” police said.

With the elimination of terrorist Sameer Dar, eight terrorists have been killed so far out of 19 terrorists involved in the Lethpora Fidayeen attack, seven terrorists/Over Ground Workers (OGWs) have been arrested and four terrorists are still absconding, police added.

“Sameer Dar was also involved in a series of grenade attacks on Police/Security Forces including attack on Army camp Kakapora, patrolling party at Gundibagh and killing of two CRPF personnel at Chinar Bagh and Railway Kakapora for which several cases are registered against him. He was also influential in motivating and recruiting the youth to join terror folds and brainwashing them to seek new members in the terrorist ranks,” police said.

Police said Mohd Ismal Alvi, alias Lamboo, was family member of Masood Azhar and was involved in conspiring in the February 2019 Pulwama terror attack in which 40 CRPF personnel were killed.

“Mohd Ismal Alvi, alias Lamboo, alias Adnan, was from family of Masood Azhar. He was involved in conspiracy and planning of Lethpora Pulwama attack and figured in charge sheet produced by NIA,” police said. “He stayed with Adil Dar till the day of fidayeen attack, the viral video of Adil Dar had Lamboo’s voice in it.”

Adil Dar, acting as a Fidayeen, rammed his explosive laden car into the CRPF convoy at Lethpora on the Jammu-Srinagar national highway in Pulwama district on February 14.

The gunfight at Nagberan-Tarsar forest area took place after a joint team of the police and the army cordoned off the area and launched a search operation on the basis of specific information about presence of terrorists.

As the security forces zeroed in on the spot where terrorists were hiding they came under a heavy volume of fire that triggered the encounter.

IG Kashmir Vijay Kumar has congratulated the army and police for the successful anti-terror operation.