Lashkar Commander Altaf Lali Killed in Bandipora Encounter
In a major breakthrough, security forces killed top Lashkar terrorist Altaf Lali in Bandipora. Two soldiers were injured. Crackdown continues across Jammu and Kashmir post-Pahalgam attack.
Bandipora, Jammu & Kashmir: Altaf Lali, one of the top Lashkar-e-Taiba militants, was killed by security personnel in a fierce gunfight in Jammu and Kashmir's Bandipora district. The battle erupted early on Friday morning following intelligence reports that suggested the movement of militants in the region.
As the troops initiated a cordon and search operation, the terrorists started firing, precipitating an extended exchange. Two security personnel were injured during the operation, and one more terrorist is thought to have been injured in the firefight.
The fourth major confrontation in the valley after the horrific Pahalgam terror attack, which killed 26 people this week.
Background and Operation Details
The anti-terror operation was followed a day after a soldier was martyred in an encounter in Udhampur's Dudu Basantgarh area.
Bandipora Police also made a breakthrough on Thursday by arresting four Over Ground Workers (OGWs) of Lashkar-e-Taiba. The OGWs were allegedly plotting attacks on police personnel and non-local residents, officials said. The arrests followed several cordon-and-search operations in the district on the basis of actionable intelligence.
Also Read: Pahalgam Attack: Asif’s House Blown Up, Adil’s Home Bulldozed by Forces
Post-Pahalgam Crackdown Stepped Up
These raids are a part of a stepped-up crackdown on terror groups in Jammu and Kashmir after the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. Security agencies have increased vigilance and mounted several search-and-destroy operations since the attack.
