JeM leader killed in encounter near Dal Lake

Srinagar, Mar 10 (PTI) In a major setback to Jaish-e-
Mohammad (JeM) militant outfit, its Jammu and Kashmir chief
Sajjad Afghani and his bodyguard, both Pakistanis, were on
Thursday killed in an encounter with security forces on the
banks of Dal Lake.
Acting on specific information, police followed a
private car moving along the Foreshore road on the banks of
Dal lake and intercepted the vehicle, Inspector General of
Police Kashmir S M Sahai told reporters.
He said the militants opened fire on the police
which retaliated. Afghani and his bodyguard were killed in the
ensuing brief encounter.
Two policemen were injured in the encounter while a
woman in nearby Habbak area was injured by a stray bullet, he
said.
Sahai said the killing of Afghani was a "big success"
for the security forces as he was trying to establish a base
in Srinagar city for launching attacks on security personnel
and their installations during the coming summer months.
"Afghani was the topmost commander of JeM in Jammu and
Kashmir and was active for the last eight years. His bodyguard
has been identified as Bilal and they were both Pakistanis,"
he said.
The slain militants had carried out a recce of Lal
Chowk area of the city earlier in the day and might have been
planning to launch attacks in near future, the officer said.
The IGP said Afghani was the mastermind of several
strikes on security forces including the attack on Central
Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawans in June last year, attack
on residence of Superintendent of Police Sopore and killing of
two cops in Pattan area of Baramulla district.
Afghani had also planned the Qammarwari attack which
was neutralised by the police killing the three motorcycle
borne militants in November last year.
Sahai said the militant commander was active in north
Kashmir's Sopore town and surrounding area for most part of
his stay in the Valley.
Police recovered an AK rifle, two pistols, seven
magazines, two hand grenades, one Under Barrel Grenade
Launcher and its eight grenades, one Radio Set and two
pouches.
This was the first encounter in the city this year.