Srinagar: The Pakistani terror outfit Lashkar-e-Toiba has suffered a major setback as India’s security forces killed terrorist Ali alias Maaz along with two other terrorists in an encounter at Par Mohalla, Hajin, on August 30 in northern Kashmir’s Bandipora district.

Security forces launched a cordon and search operation in Hajin following information about the presence of terrorists there. The operation was carried out jointly by the Army, CRPF and local police.

“As the forces reached the suspected spot, the hiding terrorists opened fire indiscriminately triggering a gunfight,” said a top police official. He said, in the ensuing encounter, three terrorists were killed. However, only two of the bodies of slain terrorists could be recovered. The third was taken by civilians amidst clashes that erupted between some local youth and the security personnel.

“A huge quantity of arms and ammunition, including rifles, magazines, pouches and incriminating material, was recovered from the site of encounter,” the official said.

“The incriminating material was seized from the site of the encounter,” the officer added.

The killed Pakistani terrorists were identified as Rizwan alias Jindaal (assigned Category A++ by the Indian security forces), Ali alias Maaz (Category A+) and Abu Zarar (Category A++).

According to the police spokesperson, the killed Pakistani terrorists were affiliated with Lashkar-e-Toiba and were involved in several attacks on security establishments and killing of civilians in the area. 

“Ali alias Maaz was the most dreaded terrorist involved in atrocities in Hajin. He single-handedly cut the throat of more than five innocent people in the area. His death is a severe jolt to the LeT tanzeem (Urdu) and this has broken their backbone,” the spokesperson said.

Jammu and Kashmir Police have registered a case in this regard and an investigation has been initiated in the instant matter.

Another cache of arms and ammunition recovered from the slain terrorists: