Pulwama Attack Mastermind Killed In J&K Gunfight, Say Reports

Amid escalating tensions in the country, news reports say that the aide of Pakistani terrorist Masood Azhar and mastermind behind the deadly Pulwama attacks was killed on Monday in an encounter. 

NDTV reported that Kamran who was responsible for running a unit of the Jaish-e-Mohammed in Kashmir was killed in the gun battle with security forces in the valley. 

Kamran was among two terrorists killed on Monday. 

The NDTV report said that the second person killed in the gun battle was identified as Afghan national Ghazi Rasheed who was an IED specialist. 

Four army personnel also lost their lives in an encounter in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama district. 

“The terrorists are believed to be linked to the February 14 car bombing. The exact identities of the two terrorists killed are being ascertained,” a defence spokesperson had told PTI earlier in the day. 

Security forces launched a cordon and search operation during the night after receiving inputs about the presence of militants in the area, a police official said.

Militants fired at forces as the searches got under way, triggering a gun battle, officials said.

The Jaish-e-Mohammed has claimed responsibility for the February 14 terror attack that left 40 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel dead and five critically wounded.

(With inputs from PTI)