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Srinagar: One of Kashmir's most wanted commanders, Naveed Jhat, who escaped from police earlier this year, was killed Wednesday in a shootout with security forces in the district. Central Budgam, Kashmir. Jhat was a "prime suspect" in the badbadination of veteran journalist Shujaat Bukhari.
The murder of Jhat is described by the police as a blow to the militant organization Lashkar-e-Tayyabba (LeT), its only leader still alive. commander of the troop who was trying to revive his base in the valley.
& # 39; A great success & # 39;
A senior police official said the forces besieged the village of Kuthpora in the Chattergam area Tuesday night after credible contributions on the presence of Jhat, aka Hanzalla, on the spot. The shooting raged until the dawn of Wednesday, and Jhat and another activist whose identity was verified by the police were killed.
"It's a big hit for us," said Police Chief Executive Dilbagh Singh. said at a press conference in Srinagar.
A senior police official said that Jhat had gone to Budgam, which borders the Pulwama district, south of Kashmir, "a few days ago."
"They (activists) are under intense pressure in the south, because of recent successful operations by forces in which more than 22 terrorists have been killed," said the police chief. "He (Jhat), in coordination with local terrorists, was trying to recruit more boys in the outfit and his move to Budgam was part of that plan. "
'The main suspect in the badbadination of Bukhari & # 39;
According to DGP Singh, Jhat was a "prime suspect" in the badbadination of Shujat Bukhari, editor of the newspaper Rising Kashmir Bukhari was shot dead by three gunmen in front of his office on June 14, accompanied by his two security guards, Bukhari also published two other articles, Buland Kashmir and Sangermal .
"S & he had been captured alive, we would have had more contact with him. (Bukhari) The level at which he was involved in the badbadination (of Bukhari), everything is buried now with his murder (Jhat), "said the DGP. He said, however, that the investigation would continue.
In a statement released this afternoon, police said Jhat was wanted by law enforcement for "complicity in a series of terrorist crimes, including the murder of Shujaat Bukhari, attacks on security institutions and many other civilian atrocities "
Police said that Jhat executed the murder plan with Malik and Muzaffar Ahmad alias Talha, both from southern Kashmir. that suspect in the case relating to the killing of Shujaat Bukhari and his security personnel.In the above-mentioned case, which is currently the subject of investigation, a notice "Intimidation was issued against Naveed Jatt and three other people on the basis of the material evidence collected," said the police statement released today.
Jhat is the second alleged activist in the badbadination of Bukhari to be killed in less than a week. On November 23, Lashkar commander Azad Ahmad Malik, aka Azad Dada, was killed by the forces during a morning meeting in the Bijbehara region of Anantnag. "Malik was wanted in the murder case because he was one of the suspects," said a police official The Wire .
The LeT, however, denied any role in the badbadination of Bukhari, claiming that it was a murder. ready to cooperate in an international investigation into the murder. The United Jehad Council, an amalgam of various militant groups based in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, had also distanced itself from allegations. In a statement, UJC chief Syed Salahuddin also called for an international investigation into the killing.
The DGP announced that he would ask the "competent authorities" of the state government to write to the Center to ask him to hand over Jhat's body. in Pakistan.
Who was Naveed Jhat?
A resident of Multan, Pakistan, Jhat allegedly infiltrated the Kashmir border in October 2012. He allegedly operated in the northern part of the valley for a few days. time before moving his base to southern Kashmir. "When he entered Kashmir, he was a minor," said a senior police official.
After shifting to the south, Jhat worked under the orders of LeT senior commanders, Abu Qasim and Abu Dujana, who were later killed in separate meetings. . Shortly after, he grew up in the ranks, but was arrested in a hiding place in Kulgam in June 2014.
However, he escaped dramatically from custody in January of this year, when he was arrested. he had been taken to a hospital in Srinagar. the central prison of the city for a medical examination. Two policemen were killed in the shootings that occurred at the hospital.
"He (Jhat) participated in the badbadination of an ASI in Pulwama in May 2013, at a series of grenade attacks against the security forces and the badbadination CRPF staff at Awneera Shopian in August 2013. In addition, he was also involved in the conspiracy and execution of several bank robberies and terrorist attacks in southern Kashmir, including the attack from a judicial complex in Pulwama in which two policemen were killed, a voting group in Shopian in April 2014, in which several civilians were injured and a presiding officer, Zai-ul-Haq Wani, was killed, and a police officer at Bongam Shopian in June 2014 who injured several civilians and police officers, "said the police statement.
" A mortal blow to Lashkar "
of the last 11 months, Jhat operated in southern Kashmir in coordination with his including the late Malik and the main commanders. Mujahideen of Hizbul, to revive militancy in Kashmir.
He was the face of LeT in Kashmir. His team has remained at the forefront of activism in the troubled region for a decade or more. The formation, however, has suffered heavy losses over the last 2.5 years since almost all major LeT commanders, including Qasim and Dujana, Majid Zargar, Junaid Mattoo, Lashkari Bashir, Ayub Lelhari, Tak Showkat, Shakor Dar and Malik were killed in separate shootings. in the south
"All remained active for four to five years. He (Jhat) was the last surviving senior commander of the holding in the valley. With his badbadination, we eliminated all the major commanders of Lashkar, "said the police official, describing the murder of Jhat as a" death blow "for the LeT.
Mudasir Ahmad is a journalist based in Srinagar.
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