J&K: Top Lashkar commander killed in Bandipora encounter, two security personnel injured

A terrorist was killed and two security personnel were injured after an encounter broke out in Jammu and Kashmir’s Bandipora on Friday.

According to a report from India Today, the killed terrorist was top Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) commander Altaf Lalli.

The operation comes as security forces intensify efforts to track down Pakistani and local terrorists involved in the killing of 26 civilians, mostly tourists, in the Pahalgam meadows on April 22.

Acting on specific intelligence on Friday about the presence of terrorists, the Indian Army and Jammu and Kashmir Police launched a joint search operation in Bandipora. The terrorists were intercepted, leading to a fierce exchange of fire.

Earlier, sources said that one of the terrorists being chased by security forces was injured in the initial exchange of fire.

In the same encounter, two police personnel from a senior officer’s security team were also hurt.

Meanwhile, Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi reached Srinagar, where he was briefed about the ongoing operation in Bandipora.

Houses of Pahalgam attackers demolished

In another development, security forces and Jammu & Kashmir authorities demolished the houses of two terrorists suspected to be involved in the Pahalgam attack on Friday.

The house of Adil Thokar, one of the terrorists allegedly involved in the Pahalgam attack, was demolished by authorities.

Thokar, also known as Adil Guree, is a member of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). He had legally travelled to Pakistan in 2018, where he reportedly received terror training, and returned to Jammu and Kashmir last year.

According to the Times of India, intelligence sources said Thokar acted as a guide and handled logistics for the terrorists involved in the Pahalgam attack that killed 26 people.