Srinagar: Three terrorists, including a deputy commander of banned Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), were killed in an encounter with security forces in Pulwama district on Sunday, police said.While the self styled Deputy Commander of the Pakistan-based terror group was identified as Arif Hazar alias Rehan, the identities of the other two slain terrorists are being ascertained, they said.Based on specific inputs about the presence of terrorists in the Pahoo area of Pulwama in south Kashmir, security forces launched a search operation there, a police official said.He said the search operation turned into an encounter after the terrorists fired upon the security personnel, who retaliated.In a tweet, Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kashmir, Vijay Kumar said, “Arif Hazar @ Rehan, deputy of LeT’s top cmdr (Basit) killed in PulwamaEncounter. Involved in killings of Insp Parvez in front of mosque, SI Arshid & 1 mobile shop owner in downtown. Several FIRs against him in Sgr city. Identification of other 2 terrorists yet to (be) done.”Later, a police spokesperson identified the other two terrorists as Abu Huzaifa alias Haqqani (Pakistani terrorist) and Natish Wani alias Haider resident of Khanyar, Srinagar.As per police records all the killed terrorists were part of groups involved in several terror crime cases including attacks on police, security forces and civilian atrocities.According to the spokesperson, the killed terrorist Arif Hazar was a categorized terrorist, active since March 2021 and involved in several terror crime cases including attacks on police, security forces and civilian atrocities besides, several cases were registered against him in Srinagar city. He was involved in the martyrdom of Inspector Parvez in front of mosque at Menganwari Nowgam on June 22; PSI Arshid Ahmad Mir near Police Station Khanyar on September 12, ; police personnel Javaid Ahmad at Saidapora Eidgah on June 17, 2021; killing of mobile shop owner Umar Nazir Bhat at Main Chowk Habba Kadal on June 23, 2021; killing of civilian Mohammad Shafi Dar at SD Colony Batamaloo and assassination of another civilian Rouf Ahmad Khan outside his house at Mejinpora Safakadal on December 22, 2021. Besides, he was also involved in grenade attacks on Police Patrolling Party at Safakadal and joint Naka party at Rainawari. Moreover, he along with his associates was also involved in an attack on a BJP leader’s residence at Aribagh, Nowgam Srinagar. In this terror attack one police personnel Rameez Raja attained martyrdom and his service rifle was also snatched. He was also involved in attack on two outside labourers at Suthsoo Kalan area of Nowgam on April 22,2022.Incriminating materials, arms & ammunition were recovered from the site of encounter. All the recovered materials have been taken into case records for further investigation.
