Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Aug 17: The top Lashkar-e-Toiba commander, Abu Qasim, and his deputy, Dujana, are on run after security forces launched massive operation against them following Udhampur attack on Border Security Forces (BSF) in which two jawans were killed and 10 others injured early this month.
Security forces launched massive operations against LeT divisional commander, Abu Qasim and his deputy, Dujana, and other LeT militants soon after a Pakistani militant, Mohammad Naveed, who took part in the attack on BSF in Udhampur on August 5 was captured. He revealed that two LeT commanders were masterminds of the attack.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) with the help of Jammu and Kashmir Police arrested eight persons in connection with the Udhampur attack for providing logistics but the main culprits are on run and security forces launched massive operations against them killing three LeT militants so far since August 5.
Two day after the attack, Abu Qasim, gave slip to the security forces during a gun battle at Kakpora village in South Kashmir’s district of Pulwama.
Abu Qasim and his deputy Dujana and a local militant of Aloochibagh area of Pulwama, Manzoor Ahmad were trapped in a house by security forces on August 7 after they killed LeT militant Talib Ahmad Shah. The duo, however, slipped out of security cordon during the night.
On August 11, two LeT militants were killed in the paddy fields of Rakh-e-Lajoora village. However, the LeT commander and one of the most wanted militants in South Kashmir, Irshad Ganai, slipped out of cordon in injured condition under heavy firing.
Sources said that the LeT that had a very strong hold in South Kashmir has been shattered after the Udhampur attack. They said that its two top commanders, Abu Qasim and Dujana, have fled from South Kashmir following major crackdown against them. They added that the duo is hiding in Central Kashmir’s forests.
Abu Qasim is most wanted LeT commander who is active for past 5 years. He is said to be mastermind behind all major militant strikes in South and Central Kashmir including killing of 8 Army men and injuring over a dozen of them during an attack in June 2013 at Srinagar Bypass on Army convoy.
Sources say that the crackdown against the LeT will continue as the NIA is still investigating the Udhampur attack and several LeT militants and their commanders are wanted.
Trending Now
E-Paper
Follow our WhatsApp channel