Jammu & Kashmir: Security Forces Kill Pakistani Terrorist Usman, Lashkar Aide

Jammu & Kashmir's security forces in Srinagar have made a significant breakthrough by killing Lashkar-e-Taiba commander Usman in an encounter at the Khanyar area. Tied to Lashkar for the last two decades, Usman was the right-hand man of top Lashkar commander Sajad Gul. His killing has dealt a massive blow to Lashkar's network as the organization considered Usman, codenamed "Chhota Walid," one of its seniormost commanders in Kashmir. His increased activities in recent months had placed him atop the security forces' target list.

Jammu & Kashmir: Lashkar Commander Usman Killed in Srinagar Encounter

Usman was questioned regarding his involvement in the 2023 October killing of Jammu & Kashmir Police Inspector Masroor who was killed when the terrorist attacked a local cricket match in Srinagar's Eidgah area. Security forces said that elimination is a big success against terrorism in the region. Official spokesman IGP VK Birdi confirmed that Usman is the one killed, while four security men were injured during the operation. More investigation is on regarding the involvement of Usman in the killing of Inspector Masroor, to which he was also alleged. The Khanyar encounter witnessed intense firing by both security forces and terrorists, with two CRPF personnel and two policemen injured. Following the encounter, the security forces retrieved the body of Usman and a large quantity of ammunition. This is one of the biggest anti-terrorism operations in Srinagar since September 15, 2022.

In the last 24 hours, three terrorists have been killed in three separate encounters across Kashmir, including Srinagar, Bandipora, and Anantnag. The operation is still going in Bandipora and two terrorists have been killed in the forests of Anantnag since an operation began there on Saturday.

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The security forces believe that such operations will lead to a further decline in the terrorist activities going on in the Kashmir region, especially as serious operators such as Usman have been wiped off. The Lashkar-e-Taiba network has suffered a severe blow, leaving deep ripples in their targets of attacking Kashmiri Pandits, Sikhs, and migrant workers in the region.