Mastermind of Udhampur attack killed in encounter

Top Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) commander Abu Qasim, a Pakistani terrorist who was involved in several attacks on the Army and paramilitary forces over years, was gunned down in Kashmir on Thursday, marking a major success for the security forces and a severe setback for the outfit.

Qasim, who carried a reward of Rs 20 lakh on his arrest, was responsible for the attack on BSF convoy in Udhampur in August, in which two personnel were killed, besides a strike on Army convoy in Kashmir in 2013, in which eight soldiers had died.

Hailing from Bahawalpur in Multan district of Pakistan, Qasim was killed in a fierce midnight encounter at Khandipura in Kulgam district, about 80 km from the Capital, after he was cornered on the basis specific intelligence developed by the J&K police about his presence there.

“We have neutralised a top Lashkar commander Abu Qasim during an operation in Khandipura in Kulgam district in the wee hours today,” said Inspector General of Police (Kashmir) SJM Gillani.

“It is a major success as Qasim was directly or indirectly involved in all major LeT attacks in Kashmir over the past five years,” he said.

Qasim, whose real name is Abdul Rehman, had been active in the Kashmir valley for the past five years. Among various actions, he was involved in an attack on an Army convoy at Hyderpora on the outskirts of Srinagar in 2013, in which eight soldiers were killed.

Recently, he was behind the attack on a BSF convoy at Udhampur in August, in which two security personnel were killed. One terrorist was killed in retaliatory fire while another Mohammed Naved, a Pakistani national, was nabbed by residents  and handed over to the police. After that incident, Qassim was declared as proclaimed offender by the National Investigation Agency (NIA).

Giving details of the encounter, Gillani said police along with Army cordoned off the village on Wednesday night on the basis of specific information about Qasim’s presence in the area. Around 2 am, Qasim tried to break the cordon and flee by throwing grenades and firing at security forces, the IGP said, adding that in retaliatory action, he was killed. The operation was called off at 12.30 pm after security forces properly conducted searches in the area.

Qasim, who was a priority for security forces, had managed to flee from Bandipora in North Kashmir recently when a police party led by Sub Inspector Mohammed Altaf had zeroed in on him. He managed to escape after firing indiscriminately on the police party killing police officer Altaf who was known as “Altaf Laptop” and was credited with busting of several terror modules. Altaf had been tailing his movements for long till he paid with his life.

Qasim’s end came barely 5km away from Zongalpore, ancestral village of Altaf in the same district. His killing is a booster for the police, especially after Altaf was gunned down by him. Qasim’s killing will dent the operational capabilities of LeT in Kashmir and also the coordination between various militant outfits in the valley, Gillani said.

His name figures in 11 terror cases, which also included killing of a prominent cardiologist Jalal-ud-Din along with his guard in Pulwama district in 2013.

Asked if Qasim’s killing would lead to the closure of investigations in the Udhampur attack case, the IGP said, “It is being investigated by the NIA and they have to tie the loose ends before taking the investigations to the logical conclusion.” 

Gillani lauded the efforts of the cops who were involved in tracking down Qasim and other militants killed in recent operations in the Valley.

Director General of Jammu and Kashmir Police K Rajendra said, “It was a great achievement for the security forces.” 

Spreading the tentacles of terror in North Kashmir, Qasim was trying to gain foothold in South Kashmir and had been operating out of Shopian and Kulgam jungles for sometime now.