Bukhari’s assassin killed in Kashmir
Jatt was among two militants killed in gunfight in Kashmir village
SRINAGAR: A top Pakistani commander of the Lashkar-e-taiba (LET) who was wanted for the murder of senior journalist Shujaat Bukhari was shot dead on Wednesday in a gun battle in Jammu and Kashmir’s Badgam district, police said, calling it “good news.”
In what is seen as a major success for security forces, Naveed Jatt alias Abu Hanzullah was among the two militants killed in the gunight that followed a cordon and search operation in Kuthpora village, Director General of Police Dilbagh Singh told the media.
“Yes,wehavegroundconirmationthat one of the two terrorists killed in Badgam was Naveed Jatt,” the oficer said.
Naveed Jatt, who hailed from Multan in Pakistan, was the most wanted LET commander in Kashmir. He was wanted for the June murder of Rising Kashmir Editor Bukhari in Srinagar.
Bukhari was killed by militants along with two security guards. Police believe Naveedjattwasamongthethreemilitants who carried out the crime.
He had escaped from police custody on Feb.6 when he was taken from the Srinagar Central Jail to SMHS Hospital in the city. Two policemen were killed during the escape.
The Pakistani was operating in south and central Kashmir. Intelligence agencies believe he was playing a major role in trying to woo youths towards militancy.
Dilbag Singh told the media: “More than two dozen militants have been killed in the last one week. They would lift boys and force them to join militancy. They would also torture them.
“Their elimination is good news for the peace-loving people.”
“For the last two months, no new youth has joined militancy in the Valley. That is a welcome development.” The police chief said that security forces do their best to ensure that civilians were not harmed during anti-militancy operations.
“Stone pelting incidents have come down. Lesser the number of militants, better for the people. Youths should desist from going to encounter sites.
“The militant outits are unable to recruit more youths. With fresh iniltration, sometimes the number of militants operating here goes up,” he said.
The killing of Naveed Jatt is seen as a major success for the security forces.
Naveed Jatt was operating in south and central Kashmir. Intelligence agencies believe he was playing a major role in trying to woo youths towards militancy.