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Top terrorist, associate killed in Rajouri
A top terrorist and his associate were killed in a joint operation by the Indian Army and the Jammu and Kashmir Police in the mountainous Rajouri district late on Thursday night, authorities said.
A top terrorist and his associate were killed in a joint operation by the Indian Army and the Jammu and Kashmir Police in the mountainous Rajouri district late on Thursday night, authorities said.
The two guerrillas, who belonged to the Hizbul Mujahedeen Pir Panjal Range (HMPPR) outfit, have been identified as Mohammad Yasin, divisional commander of HMPPR and his associate Shafaat.
The security forces had received intelligence reports about the presence of the terrorists in Morha Daraj area of Rajouri, 190 kms from Jammu. The troops of 48 Rashtriya Rifles and the state police then cordoned the area.
"Contact with the hiding terrorists was established on Thursday evening, leading to a fierce gun fight," said Farooq Khan, senior superintendent of police (SSP) Rajouri. The two ultras were killed in the late night operation.
Khan said that Yasin had been a special police officer (SPO) - an adhoc employee helping the police - who had deserted over two years ago and joined the terrorist outfit.
He added that Yasin was one of the 'most wanted' rebels in Rajouri and was involved in over 35 killings, including that of 16 Hindus in two massacres. He was carrying a reward of Rs 500,000.
Arms and ammunition, incriminating documents, and a list of members and financiers of the terrorist outfit were recovered from them, Khan said.
The killing of Mohammad Yasin is a "crippling blow to HMPPR in the twin border districts of Poonch and Rajouri", Khan remarked.
Abu Talla, a top commander of the Lashker-e-Toiba (LeT), was killed by police forces earlier this week in Kathua district. Talla had planned and executed two massacres in which 35 Hindus were killed in Doda and Udhampur districts last year.
