The security forces achieved a major success on Monday by killing chief operations commander of Jaish-e-Muhammad and mastermind of recent fidayeen attacks Khalid alias Shahid Showkat in a brief encounter at Ladoora village in North Kashmir’s Baramulla district.
Khalid was trapped after a specific input about his presence at Ladoora. A police statement said terrorist fired at a naka party which retaliated, injuring him. He, however, managed to escape from the spot and entered a house. The naka party immediately cordoned off the area and in the meantime, CRPF and Army joined the operation.
During the search operation, the terrorist fired at the search party and in the ensuing encounter, the security forces murdered him.
Khalid, a Pakistani resident, has been active in Kashmir since 2009 and was the mastermind behind the foiled Pathankote-type fidayeen attack on BSF 182 battalion camp near Srinagar International Airport and Air Force Station on October 3 in which three attackers were killed. An assistant sub-inspector (ASI) of BSF was also killed in the 10-hour gunfight.
Police said Khalid had planned the fidayeen attack on District Police Lines Pulwama on August 26 in which eight security men –four each from CRPF and Jammu and Kashmir Police –were killed and six others injured. Three Jaish militants were also killed in the day-long encounter.
According to police, Khalid also involved in the attack on 46 Rashtriya Rifles Army Camp at Karabagh Baramulla in in 2016.
“Khalid was constantly exploring opportunities to attack and kill the security forces and police personnel, '' the police statement said. ''He was motivating youth and poor boys to join his outfit for execution of grenade attacks for monetary benefits on behalf of Pakistan based JeM commanders.”
Khalid, police said, was also involved in the recent attack on SPO Altaf Ahmad Khan at Hajin Handwara in which Khan and his six-year-old son were seriously injured.
The statement said he along with his associates were also involved in the killing of tower guard Eidul Amin Mir of Sopore, Fayaz Ahmad Rather, Suhail Ahmad Dar in Watergam Orchards.
A junior commissioned officer (JCO) of Army and another militant were also killed in two other militancy-related incidents in Kashmir.
The JCO was killed when militants attacked an Army patrol at the general area of Drang-Beerwa in Budgam district.
“Subedar Raj Kumar sustained bullet injury during a late-night operation in Drang Village,'' said defence spokesman colonel Rajesh Kalia.'' He was provided immediate first aid and evacuated to hospital but unfortunately, he succumbed to the injury.''
A resident of Khanni in Himachal Pradesh, Kumar, 47, is survived by his wife Toshi Devi and two sons.
In another encounter, a militant was killed in an encounter with security forces at Gatipora village in Shopian district.
