Udhampur attack: mastermind killed in an encounter in Kashmir

Kumar said Qasim was a Pakistani national and operations chief of the Lashkar-e-Taiba militant group, which India blames for several attacks across the country, including one in 2008 in Mumbai that killed 166 people.

“He hurled a few grenades and also opened fire which we retaliated against”, Gillani told the NDTV network. Naveed and two local accomplices are all now in a jail in Jammu.

Abu Qasim, the most wanted militant involved in over a dozen militancy-related incidents in Kashmir, was killed in a joint operation by Rashitriya Rifles and Special Operation Group (SOG) of Jammu and Kashmir police in the wee hours yesterday in Kulgam. Police sources said that Qasim had shifted base from Pulwama to Kulgam recently, after the killing Ahmad. After watching the body of “Abu Qasim” the lady who identified herself as Naseema Banoo claimed that it is his brother Yaqoob who according to her was only 15 when he crossed Line of Control. “It is a serious success as Qasim was immediately or not directly concerned in all main LeT assaults in Kashmir over the previous three years”. In what was the deadliest strike that year, 11 soldiers were killed and 10 wounded.

Qasim and militant Abu Okasha were handlers of Pakistani terrorist Naved Yakub caught in Udhampur operation. “This was done to reduce the chances of his escape to zero”, said a police officer.

Recently, top counter-insurgency officer sub inspector Altaf was killed while chasing Qasim.

They said around 2 am, Qasim as usual tried to break the cordon.

“After Altaf’s killing, it was not only professional but also personal duty for us to get him (Qasim)”, Gillani said.

Meanwhile, BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi reiterated the government’s commitment for zero tolerance against terrorism, saying “the security forces were capable enough to give befitting reply to those who try to disturb the security and integrity of the country”. The NIA, which is investigating the Udhampur case, had also announced a similar reward for information leading to his arrest or killing.