Wanted Terrorist Lateef Rather neutralised

Wanted Terrorist Lateef Rather neutralised

Three LeT terrorists killed in Budgam Encounter

PRESS TRUST OF KASHMIR August 10: Acting on a technical input generated by SOG Srinagar about presence of a group of terrorists in Waterhail area of Budgam, Budgam Police along with 62RR and 79Bn CRPF launched a joint cordon and search operation in the said area.

During the search operation, as the joint party preceded towards the suspected spot the hiding terrorists fired indiscriminately upon the search party which was retaliated effectively leading to an encounter.

In the ensuing encounter, three terrorists of proscribed terror outfit LeT (TRF) were killed and their bodies were retrieved from the site of encounter. The killed terrorists have been identified as Lateef Rather @ Abdullah ( Top Commander) resident of Badipora Chadoora area of Budgam, Saqib Mushtaq Khan and Muzaffar Ahmad Chopan both residents of Khonmoh area of Srinagar.

As per police records, all the killed terrorists were part of a group involved in several terror crime cases including civilian atrocities. The killed terrorist Lateef Rather @Abdullah Bhai was a second time recycled terrorist of LeT/TRF outfit as he was apprehended by Police in a terror crime case in 2001. Post his release from Jail in 2013, he again joined LeT outfit and started operating as a close associate of Top LeT Commander Abu Qasim( Pakistani) .As per police records, he was responsible for a Fidayeen attack on 24/06/2013 in Hyderpora area on an Army Convoy in which 08 Army Jawans got martyred. Besides, he was also responsible for plotting, planning and killing of SHO PS Chadoora Martyr SI Shabir Ahmed in year 2013.

Subsequently, he was again arrested by Police in 2013 and prosecuted for his involvement in several terror crime case; however in November-2021 he got released from Jail . Post his release, he again started working for LeT/TRF outfit in Srinagar City and joined the terror folds in February-2022 and assumed the role as Commander TRF. During the year 2022, on the directions of his across border handler Sajjad Gul, killed terrorist Lateef Rather carried out several terror crimes and civilian atrocities including killing of a Kashmiri Pandit employee Rahul Bhat and an artiste Amreen Bhat in Chadoora area.

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Moreover, he was also involved in recruiting the gullible youth of Budgam/Pulwama/Srinagar areas to strengthen the terror folds of proscribed terror outfit TRF in these areas.

The other killed terrorist, Saqib Mushtaq was also involved in several terror crimes including killing of DDC Member Sameer Ahmed Dar and firing on non-local labourers in Nowgam area. Besides, terrorist Muzaffar Chopan was recently recruited by terrorist Lateef Rather and was involved in a grenade attack in Khanmoh area.

ADGP Kashmir Shri Vijay Kumar appreciated the joint teams of Police/SF for carrying out the operation in professional manner without any collateral damage and eliminating the group of terrorists including wanted terrorist Lateef Rather. He also termed the elimination of the terrorist Commander as a big success as he was wanted by law for his involvement in several civilian killings. While interacting with media, ADGP Kashmir also shared that all terrorists involved in target killings have been neutralised in different encounters except LeT terrorist Basit Dar of Kulgam who would be either arrested or neutralised in encounter at the earliest.

Incriminating materials including huge cache of arms & ammunition have been recovered from the site of encounter. All the recovered materials have been taken into case records for further course of investigation.

In this regard, a case under relevant sections of law has been registered and further investigation is into progress. People are requested to cooperate with Police till the area is completely sanitized and cleared off of the explosives, if any.

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