The terrorist killed in an encounter with security forces in Bandipora district on Monday has been identified as Umar Akbar Lone, a category A terrorist of Lashkar-e-Taiba who was active since 2018.
Addressing a press conference at the headquarters of the army’s 3 Sector Rashtriya Rifles (RR) at Manasbal, commandant Brigadier Vipul Tyagi said on Tuesday that searches continued in the area and security forces had been monitoring it after intelligence inputs suggested movement of terrorists.
The Army police, Special Operation Group of Police on Sunday night had launched an operation in the forests of Aragam and after a gunfight killed one militant who was later identified as Lashkar and TRF commander.
“We got a specific input about militants and army along with police and CRPF launched an operation and killed a Lashkar-e-Taiba commander Umar Akbar Lone of Wussan Pattan,” Tyagi said.
He added that the slain ultra is a resident of Wussankhui area in Baramulla district and was a category A terrorist who was active since April 2018 and was associated with LeT/The Resistance Front. TRF is an off-shoot of the LeT.
Terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir are categorised as A, B or C depending on their involvement in militancy activities.
{{/usCountry}}Terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir are categorised as A, B or C depending on their involvement in militancy activities.
{{/usCountry}}Lone was involved in numerous terrorist-related activities such as recruitment, illegal killings and the expansion of the overground worker (OGW) network, the army officer said.
“His elimination is a significant achievement for the security forces. Over the last few weeks, the Indian Army along with other police and paramilitary forces has maintained a high-operational momentum that has eroded the terror ecosystem in a systematic manner,” he added.