Srinagar, Mar 20 (UNI) Jammu and Kashmir Police on Thursday said the foreign militant killed in the Handwara gunbattle three days ago was linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba and was involved in the Sopore encounter two months ago, in which a soldier lost his life
On March 17, security forces shot dead a suspected Pakistani militant identified as Saifullah during a gunfight in a forested area of Handwara. This marked the first militant killing in Kashmir this year.
Police said with the elimination of LeT’s Saifullah, an “A” category foreign terrorist (FT), in an intelligence-based operation on March 17, they solved the Zaloora, Sopore encounter case.
“Post-operation investigations confirmed his involvement in the Zaloora Sopore encounter, in which a security forces personnel was martyred,” police said.
An army soldier, identified as Sepoy Pangala Kartheek, was killed in an exchange of fire with militants in the Gujjarpatti Zaloora area of Sopore on January 20. Security forces later carried out a search operation in the area after the gunbattle. However, they couldn’t track down the militants. The operation was later called off after two days.
Police said Saifullah had been active along the Handwara-Sopore axis, working to revive the LeT network.
“His elimination marks a major success in the fight against terrorism in North Kashmir,” police said. UNI
