LeT terrorist behind 19 security force deaths killed in Kashmir op
A wanted LeT terrorist, Yasir, was killed in Yusmarg after a three-month joint operation that began in Poonch's Pir Panjal forests.
A Pakistani Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) terrorist, wanted for his role in the killings of 19 security personnel, was killed on Friday in the Yusmarg area of Central Kashmir. The operation, which spanned over three months, was a joint effort by police and security forces, relying on a combination of human intelligence and technical surveillance.
The slain terrorist, identified as Yasir, had been evading capture since 2021. His accomplice, Asif Fouji alias Moosa, remains at large, and a search operation is currently underway to locate him.
Officials stated that sustained pressure from security forces had pushed the duo from the dense forests of Loran on the Poonch side of the Pir Panjal range into the higher reaches of Yusmarg. The terrorists were implicated in a series of deadly attacks, including the killing of nine soldiers in Poonch in October 2021, five soldiers in April 2023, and four soldiers at Dehra Ki Gali in December 2023. They were also held responsible for the deaths of an IAF personnel in May 2024 and two army personnel and two civilians in Baramulla in October 2024.
Following the Baramulla attack, the two had disappeared from the radar, with many assuming they had been killed or had managed to cross back into Pakistan. Police sources revealed that they were, in fact, moving through the forests of Rajouri and Poonch, with locals too fearful to report their movements.
Intelligence about their location emerged roughly three months ago, leading to a joint operation in the Dorimal forests of Thanamandi in Rajouri. After nearly two months, the terrorists escaped towards Poonch. A fresh operation was launched in the Surankote area, forcing the duo to take refuge in the higher-altitude forests of Loran Mandi.
On August 27, technical surveillance confirmed their presence in the Loran forests. Two days later, forces learned the terrorists had visited a hut for food, warning the family not to leave the room, which gave no clue to their escape route. Simultaneous search operations were launched on the Yusmarg side of the mountain, eventually leading to contact with the terrorists and the killing of Yasir.