Kashmir: Top LeT commander killed in Srinagar encounter

The encounter had broken out during a Cordon and Search Operation (CASO) on Monday afternoon in Srinagar outskirts.

Giving details about the incident, the spokesman said there was specific information about militants' plan to carry out an attack on a highway.

Acting on the tip-off, the Jammu and Kashmir police and CRPF established joint nakas at several places along the highway.

At Parimpora naka, a vehicle was stopped and the occupants were asked for their identity at which one person sitting at the back seat opened his bag and attempted to take out a grenade.

The naka party swiftly swung into action and grabbed him, the spokesperson said. Both-- the driver and the man--were arrested. During their questioning in Parimpora police station, one of them was identified as LeT top commander Nadeem Abrar, who was put to joint interrogation by the police, CRPF and the Army.

He said one pistol and hand grenades were recovered from his possession. He further added that on sustained interrogation, Abrar disclosed that he had kept his AK-47 rifle in a house located at Maloora, about a km from there.

He was then taken to the house to recover the weapon .

However, when the search party was entering the house to recover the weapon, his associates, a Pakistani militant present inside the house, opened fire injuring three CRPF personnel. Abrar was also hit by a bullet.

The injured SF personnel were evacuated, he said, adding that other security forces took position and called for reinforcement. The cordon of the target house was strengthened by components of JKP, CRPF & Army and the fire was further retaliated, he said.

In the ensuing gun fire, foreign militant who fired from inside the house 'got neutralised and Abrar also got killed'. Two AK-47 rifles along with ammunition were recovered from the site.

He said Abrar was involved in several killings of SFs along with other militants.

Earlier, during the day on Monday Inspector General of Police (IGP) Vijay Kumar had said LeT top commander Nadeem Abrar involved in several killings was arrested. He said it was a great success.

The IGP, in his tweet yesterday's tweet, said: "Top LeT commander Nadeem Abrar #arrested. He was involved in several #killings. Big success for us: IGP Kashmir @JmuKmrPolice."

Local resident Reyaz Ahmad told UNI that the operation had been completed and security forces had left the area. A house was completely damaged, he added.