Lashkar terrorist killed in Poonch encounter, 8 killed this year in Rajouri-Poonch: Defence Sources

The terrorist has been identified and was found active with Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist outfit.

Defence sources here told UNI that joint efforts of Indian Army, police and paramilitary forces continued to show positive results in Rajouri-Poonch region, due to unwavering support of locals.

"In a major success and boost to counter-terrorist operations, a foreign terrorist specially trained and brain washed to operate in Rajouri-Poonch area with an aim of orchestrating a spectacular strike, has been eliminated this morning," sources said.

They identified him as Abu Zarara of Lashkar-e-Taiba outfit.

Sources said that this is the eighth terrorist eliminated this year in this region. "Recently, Haji Arif, a terrorist guide, was also eliminated on LoC in Rajouri Sector," they added.

They said as the terrorists got isolated and moved away from civilian populated area, the Army and Police, in coordination with paramilitary forces, launched clinical operation on receiving specific input from locals in Behramgala area.

"The terrorists attempted to get away by opening fire on security forces, but this LeT terrorist was eliminated in retaliatory fire, while his accomplice is on the run," said the sources, adding that one AK- 47, four magazines (filled), one grenade and some Indian currency were recovered from him.

"The recovered items clearly revealed Pakistan's complicity with this terrorist," they said.

Sources said the Pak-trained and sponsored Foreign Terrorist killed in the gunfight was first detected in August this year and it is probably part of Pakistan's efforts to revive terrorism in South of Pir Panjal region.

"While the terrorist and his accomplice have been on the run, taking shelter in deep jungles for the past few months, their need for food, clothing and communication (mobile) forced them to contact civilian population," Defence sources said, adding that Indian Army, in joint effort with JKP, monitored this mobile communication on a near real-time basis, while the locals provided crucial information on the movement of suspects.

"This enabled the security forces to corner the terrorists, forcing them to get away to higher reaches of Pir Panjal ranges, despite the onset of winters," they added.

Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police Dilbag Singh on December 10, while taking a review of security measures put in place along the Line of Control against the infiltration attempts by the Pakistan agencies to push in terrorists and narcotics, had said that close synergy was maintained between the Security Forces thwarting Pakistan-sponsored infiltration attempts being made in border Rajouri and Poonch districts of the Union Territory.

"The twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch of Jammu have been witnessing terrorist infiltration bids sponsored by Pakistan authorities," said Singh, while chairing a security review meeting with officers during his visit to Poonch district.

"Due to synergy and close liaison between the Jammu and Kashmir Police, Army and other security forces, many of such acts were thwarted on the border and in the hinterland successfully," he added.