Meer Iqbal
Srinagar: Security forces on Monday killed a Pakistani terrorist, Saifullah, in an encounter at the Krumbhoora Rajwar area of Handwara, North Kashmir. The operation was jointly launched by the Indian Army and Jammu & Kashmir Police, which resulted in the seizure of an AK-47 rifle, magazines, and other arms and ammunition.
SSP Handwara Mushtaq Choudhary, in a press briefing, confirmed that Saifullah was present in the area for the last few months and had been involved in various anti-national activities. He added that the operation was undertaken on the basis of specific intelligence inputs about the presence of militants in the area.
The official sources said that the encounter started when security forces conducted a cordon and search operation (CASO) in the Krumbhoora Rajwar forest. When the forces advanced, the hiding terrorist fired at the search party, prompting the joint team to fire back. A fierce gun battle followed, in which Saifullah was eliminated.
The operation was carried out with precision to prevent collateral damage. The killed terrorist has been identified as Saifullah, a Pakistani national who had crossed into Kashmir a few months back and was operating in the area,” SSP Handwara said.
Security forces are currently probing Saifullah’s network and potential local connections. Sources indicate that he was part of a larger group trying to make inroads in North Kashmir. Intelligence agencies are making efforts to assess if he received any local support or if he was self-operating.
Security forces meanwhile have increased the search operations within the vicinity of the area in order to discount any further militant presence. It has been asserted that the locality is still in a security cordon to exclude the possibility of further threats.
