In a significant development in Jammu and Kashmir, security forces have successfully eliminated a terrorist involved in the brutal killings of six workers and a doctor at a housing camp in Ganderbal. The terrorist, identified as Junaid Ahmed Bhat, was reportedly associated with the Pakistan-origin Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorist group, sources confirmed.
The encounter took place as part of a cordon and search operation (CASO) carried out by the Jammu and Kashmir Police. Bhat, who had been on the radar of security agencies for some time, was listed as an ‘A’ category terrorist. According to senior police officials, he was involved in several terror attacks in Gagangir and other areas of the region, including the recent attack in Ganderbal. Bhat, a resident of Kulgam, had gone missing a year ago, but authorities tracked him down after he was spotted in CCTV footage carrying an AK-series assault rifle during the Ganderbal attack.
“A Lashkar terrorist identified as Junaid Ahmed Bhat, who was involved in killing civilians at Gagangir, Ganderbal, and several other areas, has been eliminated in an encounter,” a senior police officer told NDTV. Bhat’s death is being seen as a significant victory for the security forces in their ongoing fight against terrorism in the region.
Following the CASO operation, security has been heightened in the Dachhigam forest area, located on the outskirts of Srinagar. Intelligence agencies have expressed concerns that Bhat’s actions could prompt a resurgence of local residents joining terror groups in the Kashmir valley. In response, Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha convened a high-level security meeting with senior police officers and bureaucrats to assess the situation.
In a related move, the Jammu and Kashmir Police have detained two women terror associates under the Public Safety Act (PSA). The women, identified as Maryama Begum and Arshad Begum, are believed to have provided logistical support to terrorist groups and facilitated their operations in the region. The police noted that the women’s continuous involvement posed a serious risk to public safety and tranquility, and their detention was ordered to prevent further criminal activities.
The police statement described the two women as “overground workers,” individuals who blend in with the civilian population but support terror groups with critical assistance. Their detention under the PSA is a preventive measure aimed at curbing the threat posed by terrorist networks operating in the area.
The successful operation and the swift response by authorities highlight the ongoing efforts of Jammu and Kashmir’s security forces to neutralize terror threats and ensure the safety of civilians in the region.
Sources By Agencies
