Kashmir: Top LeT militant Waseem Shah killed in encounter in Pulwama; one civilian dies in crossfire

A top Lashkar-e-Taiba militant, Waseem Shah, believed to be the main architect of unrest last year in south Kashmir, was killed along with his accomplice in an encounter early Saturday morning by security forces in Pulwama district, police said. During a press conference after the encounter, Inspector General of Police (Kashmir) Munir Khan said that one civilian was killed and another injured in the crossfire between the terrorists and the security forces.

1 civilian died & 1 civilian got injuries in cross fire between terrorist and security forces during the operation in Pulwama: IG Munir Khan

— ANI (@ANI) October 14, 2017

As news about the encounter spread in the area, announcements were made through mosque public address systems asking people to come out and stage protests. Protesters from the village and adjacent areas gathered in large numbers, pelting stones at the security forces and shouting pro-Islam slogans. Shah, 23, also known as ‘Abu Osama Bhai’ was killed at Litter area in Pulwama, a place considered to be a safe haven for militants. This is the first counter-insurgency operation in Litter area in four years. [caption id=“attachment_3933793” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Representational image. PTI[/caption] Jammu and Kashmir police has been tracking the movements of Shah, who is considered as the ‘don of Heff’, another traditional stronghold of militants in South Kashmir’s Shopian district. Khan said that Shah’s elimination is a big success because he used to recruit cadre for LeT. He was found at a hideout at Litter and police and its special operation group team cordoned off the area, police said. Shah along with his bodyguard Nisar Ahmed Mir made an attempt to flee the area but could not penetrate the cordon which had been strengthened by the presence of CRPF and army, they said. Shah, who was wanted in various terror-related cases, was killed along with Naseer, another local boy who had joined militancy in May this year. A college dropout, Shah, a resident of Heff-Shrimal in Shopian, joined militancy in 2014 and was considered as the ‘chief architect’ of last year’s unrest in various parts of South Kashmir. Born in a middle class family of Gul Mohammed Shah, who ran his fruit business, Shah was an active supporter of Lashkar-e-Taiba militant group since his school days and had doubled up as a courier boy for the outfit, police said. Off late, Shah, who carried a cash reward of Rs 10 lakh on his head, was recruiting fresh cadres for the militant outfit. He had been involved in various attacks on security forces in South Kashmir, police said. With inputs from agencies