Terrorist killed in Dachigam encounter: Police

Srinagar, Dec 3: The Jammu and Kashmir Police Tuesday said that the terrorist killed in a gunfight with the Police and security forces in the Dachigam forests was wanted in the October 20 Gagangeer, Sonamarg tunnel attack.

A top Police official said that the terrorist, identified as Junaid Ahmad Bhat, was wanted for the Gagangeer attack in which seven civilians were killed.

He said that Bhat was a local commander of the Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT).

“In the ongoing operation, one terrorist identified as Junaid Ahmed Bhat (LeT,

Category A) has been killed. He was involved in the killing of civilians in Gagangeer, Ganderbal, and several other terror attacks,” a Police spokesman said on X.

The spokesman said that based on specific intelligence inputs, joint parties of security forces launched a Cordon and Search Operation (CASO) in the upper reaches of the Dachigam forest.

“The operation was launched on Monday evening after receiving information about suspicious movement in the area. Two terrorists were believed to be trapped,” an official said.

The killing of Junaid Bhat has been termed as a “big achievement” for the security forces.

“It is a big achievement for the security agencies,” a top Police official said.

Talking to Greater Kashmir, Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kashmir Range, Vidhi Kumar Birdi said the terrorist killed in the Dachigam encounter was active since July 2023.

“He was from Kulgam,” he said.

On whether it was a group of terrorists, the IGP said there was no clarity about it.

“This is the reason why searches are still going on in the area,” he said. “But, yes, there are few chances that a terrorist will move alone in dense forests like this. It is necessary to search the area again.”

On whether the second terrorist, who was believed to be trapped in the encounter, managed to escape, the IGP said it would not be right to draw this conclusion at the moment as the searches were going on in the forests.

He said that J&K Police and security forces received information on Monday evening following which an operation was launched which later turned into an encounter.

The IGP said that the terrorist who was killed in the encounter was tracked by the security forces for a long time post-Gagangeer incident.

“After getting the information, the security forces conducted this operation and killed him," he said.

IGP Birdi said that the detailed statement would be issued after the operation ends.

“I would like to clarify one thing, this is not the main area of Srinagar where the encounter took place. It is on the outskirts and upper reaches of Srinagar. The area is surrounded by rugged mountainous ranges and jungle,” he said.

Meanwhile, an official said that speculative shots were being fired at the encounter spot to see if there would be any response from the other side.

“The operation is on but there are chances that the other one has managed to escape,” the official said.