Srinagar: Top Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) commander Yousuf Kantroo was among three militants killed in an encounter in Baramulla district of north Kashmir on Thursday, police said.
Four soldiers were injured in the initial exchange of fire between the two sides, they said.
“#BaramullaEncounterUpdate: So far, 03 #terrorists have been killed. #Operation going on. Further details shall follow,” Kashmir Zone Police tweeted around 10 PM on Thursday.
Earlier, sharing details of the encounter, police spokesman in a statement said that acting on specific information generated by Budgam Police, a special team of police alongwith Army’s 62RR launched a joint cordon and search operation in Malwah area of Baramulla.
“During the search operation as the joint search party reached the suspected spot, the hiding terrorists fired indiscriminately upon them in which four (04) soldiers including one officer received minor injuries,” the spokesman said.
He said the fire was effectively retaliated leading to an encounter.
“Later on Baramulla Police headed by SSP Baramulla also joined in operation. One policeman from Baramulla district also got injured in encounter who was later shifted to Army’s base hospital in Srinagar,” the spokesman said.
He said in the ensuing encounter, “so far two terrorists of proscribed outfit LeT including a dreaded commander Yousuf Kantroo, one of longest surviving terrorist, were killed and their bodies were retrieved from the site of encounter.”
Police spokesman said that Yousuf Kantroo had earlier joined as an OGW of Hizbul Mujahideen outfit and was arrested in the year 2005.
“He was released in the year 2008, but he again joined terrorist ranks in the year 2017 and started killing innocent civilians, policemen and political workers. Later on he switched from Hizb to LeT outfit,” the spokesman said.
He said the identity of the other killed militant is being ascertained.
“As per police records, the killed terrorist were categorized terrorist and part of groups involved in several terror crime cases including attacks on police/SFs and civilian atrocities,” spokesman said.
He said “Yousuf Kantroo was involved in dozens of civilian atrocities and security personnel killings including killing of SPO Mohammad Ishfaq Dar and his brother Umer Ahmad Dar, resident of Chatabugh Budgam on March 26, 2022, killing of BDC chairman Late Sardar Bhupinder Singh on September 23, 2020 in his own native place in Khag, killing of NC block president at Natipora Chanapora Srinagar, killing of Tajamul Mohidin Dar, resident of Guttapora Budgam on March 21, 2022, killing of Gulzar Ahmad of Lawaypora at Narbal, killing of Tanveer Zargar of Chewa at Narbal, killing of Nazir Ahmad Dar (an employee of Health department) resident of Warihama at Warihama, killing of Sarpanch Manzoor Ahmad of Pattan. Besides, he was also involved in grenade throwing incidents, abduction and killing of police and SF personnel including killing of CRPF personnel HC Riyaz Ahmad Rather, resident of Nawgam Anantnag at Kanihama by lobbing grenade on deployment on December 23, 2017, abduction and killing of constable Mohammad Ashraf Rather alias Ishfaq, resident of Archanderhama Magam, abduction and killing of Army personnel Mohammad Sameer Malla, resident of Lokipora Khag on March 07, 2022, killing of SPO Mohammad Altaf during an encounter at Peth-Zanigam, killing of one ex-SPO Naseer Ahmad Khan, resident of Buchipora Kawoosa Khalisa.”
Moreover, the spokesman said he was also involved in snatching 4 AK rifles from the residence of Legislature Muzafar Parray at J-37 Jawaharnagar Srinagar.
Spokesman also said that “it was on his directions that Abrar Nadeem (neutralized terrorist) carried out an attack on CRPF at Lawaypora Srinagar” in which three CRPF personnel were killed on March 25, 2021.
In addition to this, the Kantroo was “also involved in recruiting innocent/gullible youth into terror folds including recruitment of Faisal Hafeez Dar of Aaripanth Magam into terrorist ranks.”
Meanwhile, while commenting on a video which went viral on social media, in which mother of a trapped militant while mourning is heard saying, “come back my son, you are too young and innocent, these old cruel terrorists have deceived you, they are pick-pockets and goons who are enticing innocent and young boys”, IGP Kashmir yet again appealed parents of other militants to appeal to their wards to shun the path of violence.
He congratulated the joint team of forces for conducting successful operation by eliminating the “top most-wanted terrorist Yousuf Kantroo”.
Incriminating materials, arms and ammunition were recovered from the site of encounter. All the recovered materials have been taken into case records for further investigation.
Police spokesman also said that “three more terrorists are still inside cordon and exchange of fire is going on. Further information will be shared accordingly.”
