LeT commander killed in ‘brief encounter’: Police
Police on Wednesday claimed to have killed Lashkar-i-Toiba (LeT), district commander, Ayub Lalhari in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district.
Police sources said that army personnel from 55 RR and a SOG party from the police had laid an ambush in Bandarpora area and as soon as a vehicle passed through the check point, Ayub Lalhari who was travelling in the vehicle along with another civilian tried to escape into a nearby orchard.
“The militant fired on the army and police party which was retaliated resulting in the killing of the LeT commander,” police sources added.
Reports said that Ayoub was reportedly trying to enter into Srinagar where he was planning to get himself treated. Lalhari was reportedly injured during an encounter in Samboora area of the district few days back.
State Police Chief, S P Vaid confirmed the killing, on twitter said that Lelhari was the district commander of Lashkar.
A resident of Lelhar, the slain’s name was Mohammad Ayoub Lone.
Local residents said the vehicle was intercepted and it led to a very brief encounter. A policeman was also injured in the firefight, said DIG South Kashmir.
Police sources said the militant was tracked in a vehicle and it led to an exchange in an encounter in the apple orchards of the village. Police sources said that a civilian was also boarding the vehicle, however, he managed to flee during the melee. The driver of the vehicle identified as Tahir Manzoor of Koil Pulwama has been arrested, the spokesman added.
Meanwhile, a police spokesman in Srinagar said that two Police personnel also sustained injuries during the gunfight, one among them has been shifted to Army’s 92 Base Hospital Badamibagh for further treatment. The condition of both Police personnel is stable, he said. He said that an AK 47 rifle, 03 magazines and 54 rounds were seized from the slain militant.
The spokesman said that the driver of the said vehicle was arrested.
Ayoub Lelhari had joined LeT outfit in 2015 and became very important operative of LeT. He was involved in number of offences including killing of civilians in Pulwama besides attack on security forces. He was involved in grenade attacks on Army camp and Police Post at Kakapora. He was also involved in killing of Sarpanch Fayaz Ahmad Kandizal.
His killing is a major success and it has weakened the militant network in Pulwama, the spokesman added.
KV Correspondent
