10-10-2023 : Security forces in Jammu and Kashmir’s Shopian district engaged in a firefight with and ultimately eliminated two local militants affiliated with Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) on Tuesday. This operation also revealed that one of the slain militants had allegedly played a role in the tragic killing of a Kashmiri Pandit earlier this year.
The victim, Kashmiri Pandit Sanjay Sharma, was employed as an ATM guard and had fallen victim to an attack by suspected militants in the Achan area of Pulwama district in south Kashmir on February 26.
According to Additional Director General of Police, Kashmir, Vijay Kumar, the two militants were identified as Morifat Maqbool and Jazim Farooq, who was also known as Abrar. Both were killed during the gunfight in Shopian on Tuesday, and crucially, it was revealed that one of them had been directly involved in the murder of Sanjay Sharma.
“Terrorist Abrar was involved in the killing of Kashmiri Pandit Sanjay Sharma,” stated ADGP Vijay Kumar, confirming the connection between one of the militants and the targeted killing of the ATM guard.
The exchange of gunfire unfolded in the Alshipora area of Shopian and transpired within the context of a cordon and search operation. This operation had been initiated by joint forces in response to intelligence suggesting the presence of militants in the area.
Authorities have officially announced the successful elimination of the two LeT militants in the encounter, and the search operation is ongoing, as security forces continue their efforts to ensure the area is completely secured.