 "How biscuits played a big role in eliminating top Lashkar e-Taiba commander in Kashmir")
The recent anti-terror operation in Jammu and Kashmir, which led to the elimination of a high-profile Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) commander witnessed the role of a key ammunition- biscuits.
A senior official disclosed in a PTI report that this seemingly ordinary snack played a pivotal role in overcoming a critical obstacle during the mission targeting Pakistan-based terrorist Usman, who was heavily armed with an AK-47 pistol and grenades.
So what happened? How did biscuits become a crucial strategic asset? We explain.
The meticulous planning
It all started when security officials received intelligence about LeT commander, Usman’s presence in a densely populated residential area of Srinagar’s Khanyar.
Usman alias Chota Walid was head of the Pakistan-based terrorist organisation Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and was known for orchestrating many terror attacks since he began his activities in the early 2000s.
He was also involved in the killing of police inspector Masroor Wani last year, who was shot dead from close range while he was playing cricket on the Eidgah ground in the capital.
Usman had been operating from Jammu and Kashmir for a long time. After a stint in Pakistan, he had infiltrated back into the region around 2016-17 and has been responsible for many terror attacks.
An officer, quoted by PTI, described Usman as the “right hand” of Sajad Gul, the commander of The Resistance Front (TRF), a shadow group of LeT, operating from Pakistan.
When intelligence pinpointed Usman’s location in a residential cluster, the local police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) meticulously planned a nine-hour operation. The goal was to ensure precision while minimising any collateral damage.
The entire operation was set to commence on Saturday before Fajr (pre-dawn prayers), with security forces establishing a cordon around a cluster of 30 homes.
However, one of the major concerns was the presence of stray dogs in the area, whose barking could alert the terrorist.
To counter this issue, the search teams devised a plan: they would carry biscuits to pacify the stray dogs as they approached the target area.
A ‘major blow’ to LeT
The security forces soon found themselves in an intense standoff with Usman, who was heavily armed with an AK-47, a pistol, and several grenades.
During the confrontation, some grenades detonated, sparking a fire in the house where Usman was hiding. Thanks to the quick actions of the security personnel, the fire was swiftly contained, preventing it from spreading to the surrounding homes.
This operation was particularly significant, marking the first major gunfight in Srinagar’s summer capital in over two years.
After several hours of fierce gunfire, Usman was finally neutralised.
An official described the elimination of the top LeT commander as a “major blow” to the group’s operations in Jammu and Kashmir, as reported by PTI.
#WATCH | Srinagar, J&K: On encounter in Khanyar area of Srinagar, Kashmir IGP VK Birdi says, "...Now this operation has been completed. Security forces have killed a terrorist, who has been identified as Usman..., he was the commander of LeT and 4 security personnel have been… https://t.co/rFviTnUuHP pic.twitter.com/QSubmR0tHZ
— ANI (@ANI) November 2, 2024
However, the encounter was not without its toll. Two CRPF jawans and two policemen sustained injuries during the operation. They were immediately taken to the Army’s 92 Base Hospital, where their condition was reported to be stable.
Recent attacks in Jammu and Kashmir
Hours after the successful operation, a grenade attack at Srinagar’s ‘Sunday market’ left at least 11 people injured.
The newly sworn-in Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah condemned the incident, calling it “deeply disturbing.”
In a statement, he said, “The last few days have been dominated by headlines of attacks & encounters in parts of the valley. Today’s news of a grenade attack on innocent shoppers at the ‘Sunday market’ in Srinagar is deeply disturbing. There can be no justification for targeting innocent civilians.”
He further urged the security forces to take swift action, adding, “The security apparatus must do everything possible to end this spurt of attacks at the earliest so that people can go about their lives without any fear.”
This attack followed a series of anti-terror operations in response to escalating violence against migrant workers in the Kashmir Valley.
Earlier, two workers from Uttar Pradesh were killed in Budgam district. Prior to this, seven people, including a local doctor and two workers from Bihar, were shot dead at a tunnel construction site in Ganderbal district.
Also read: Quicksplained: Who was Phantom, the Indian Army dog that died in J&K anti-terror operation?
National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah, whose son Omar Abdullah recently assumed office as Chief Minister, suggested that the surge in terror activities might be an attempt to destabilise the new government and called for an independent investigation into the recent attacks.
With input from agencies
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