In a breakthrough in the aftermath of the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, Indian security forces on Friday eliminated Altaf Lalli, a top operative of the Pakistan-based terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba, in the hills of Bandipora district.
His killing is being hailed by officials as both “symbolic and strategic” in the ongoing counter-offensive against the masterminds behind the attack.
The successful operation was jointly conducted by the Indian Army and the Jammu and Kashmir Police after receiving actionable intelligence about the militants’ presence in the area. A fierce gun battle ensued during the raid, during which two police personnel sustained injuries.
Reports suggest that another terrorist, allegedly linked to the Pahalgam assault, was also wounded during the encounter but managed to flee. Security forces are continuing combing operations in the area to apprehend any remaining militants.
In a clear indication of the seriousness of the ongoing operations, Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi arrived in Srinagar on Friday to personally review the counter-terror strategy and boost the morale of the forces.
His visit is being seen as a high-level endorsement to expedite the search for the perpetrators.
Later the same day, houses belonging to two terror suspects, identified as Adil Hussain Thoker from Bijbehara and Asif Sheikh from Tral, were demolished in a powerful blast.
Although there has been no official statement confirming whether security forces were behind the demolitions, the action appears to be part of an intensified crackdown.
Thoker, believed to have played a key role in facilitating the Pahalgam attack by guiding Pakistani militants through the dense forests of Baisaran, is now the top name on a list of most-wanted militants released by the Anantnag Police.
A reward of ₹20 lakh has been announced for information leading to his capture. Two Pakistani nationals, Ali Bhai and Hashim Musa, also figure prominently on the wanted list, and sketches of all three suspects have been widely circulated across South Kashmir.
The April 22 attack, where terrorists disguised in military uniforms targeted tourists in Pahalgam, has left Kashmir shaken.
Survivors of the massacre have shared horrifying accounts, stating that the attackers demanded to see identification documents and deliberately executed non-Muslims at point-blank range.
The region remains tense but determined, as security agencies continue one of the largest manhunts in recent years to bring all those responsible for the Pahalgam bloodshed to justice.e
