A terrorist linked to multiple attacks, including the killing of six workers and a doctor at a housing camp in Jammu and Kashmir’s Ganderbal district, was neutralized in an encounter by security forces. The terrorist, identified as Junaid Ahmed Bhat, was affiliated with the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), according to official sources.
The operation, led by the Jammu and Kashmir Police as part of a Cordon and Search Operation (CASO), took place in the Dachhigam forest area on the outskirts of Srinagar.
“A Lashkar terrorist identified as Junaid Ahmed Bhat, who was listed as an ‘A’ category terrorist, was eliminated. He was involved in killing civilians at Gagangir, Ganderbal, and several other areas,” a senior police officer told NDTV.
Profile of Junaid Ahmed Bhat
Bhat, a resident of Kulgam, had been missing for over a year before resurfacing on CCTV footage during the Ganderbal attack. He was spotted carrying an AK-series assault rifle. In addition to his involvement in the housing camp attack, he was implicated in other terror activities, including incidents in Gagangir.
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Following the CASO, security has been heightened in the Dachhigam area, which is also home to a national park. The operation reflects the ongoing commitment of Jammu and Kashmir’s security forces to neutralize threats and ensure the safety of civilians in the region.
This development comes amid heightened efforts to curb terrorism in the region, with recent actions including dismissals of government employees allegedly linked to terror activities and strengthened surveillance protocols.
