Spurt In Terror Attacks In J&K : NC president Farooq Abdullah Seeks Investigation , Gets Support From Sharad Pawar

The ruling National Conference (NC) has sought an inquiry into the spike in terrorist attacks in the Valley since Chief Minister Omar Abdullah was sworn in, saying some elements were trying to defame an elected government.

“Violence is taking place. There should be an investigation into it. Those involved should be arrested alive. We will get to know who is doing it because there are attempts to defame us,” NC president Farooq Abdullah said at a function, reported PTI  .

We should check if there is an agency who is trying to destabilise Omar Abdullah,” news agency ANI quoted Farooq Abdullah as saying.

“Farooq Abdullah is the tallest personality of the Jammu and Kashmir…He spent his life serve the people of Jammu and Kashmir. I have no doubt about his integrity and honesty. If such a leader is making any statement then the central government, especially the home ministry, should take it seriously and try to work out on how that situation can be resolved,” Sharad Pawar reportedly said in Maharashtra’s Baramati.

Abdullah said the peaceful assembly election was a big achievement for the people of Kashmir, and it united the entire community.

Earlier, A top Pakistani commander of the terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) who was active in the Valley for several years was killed and four security personnel were injured in an encounter in the Khanyar area on Saturday, officials said.

According to PTI, Security forces launched a cordon and search operation in the densely populated locality of Khanyar in the interior city following inputs about the presence of terrorists in the area. The search operation turned into an encounter as the terrorists opened fire at the search party, which retaliated, a police official said.

During the operation, a fire broke out in the house where the terrorists were holed up and thick grey smoke was seen billowing into the sky.

One terrorist has been gunned down in the ongoing encounter, the officials said.

Two Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawans and two policemen were injured in the encounter. They were taken to the Army’s 92 Base Hospital and their condition is stated to be stable, the officials said.

A senior police officer told PTI that the slain terrorist was a Pakistani and belonged to the LeT.

“He has been identified as Usman. He was the senior-most Pakistani LeT commander here,” he said.

Usman had been active in the Valley for a very long time and was involved in several attacks. His killing is a “major blow” to the LeT in Jammu and Kashmir, he added.

“Usman was also involved in the killing of Inspector Masroor Wani,” the officer said.

Wani was shot dead from close range while he was playing cricket in the Eidgah ground here in October 2023.

“Usman was also the right hand of Sajad Gul, the TRF commander based in Pakistan,” the officer said.

The Resistance Front (TRF) is believed to be a shadow outfit of the LeT.

In another ongoing operation, two terrorists were gunned down by the security forces near Halkan Gali in the Shangus-Larnoo area in Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir, according to officials.