In a major blow to the Jaish-e-Mohammed terror outfit, a top commander of the group was among two terrorists killed by security forces during an encounter in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kathua district this week.
According to sources, the slain terrorists have been identified as Jaish commander Rihaan and his security officer (PSO). It is suspected that the Pakistan Army had a hand in the infiltration of these terrorists across the International Border (IB).
Rihaan was found to be carrying sophisticated equipment, including an M4 rifle with a night scope and a frequency satellite communication device. The sources said that the “MICRO” satellite communication device he possessed is typically used by the Pakistan Army, Navy, and Air Force.
This encounter in Kathua comes amid a spate of terror attacks witnessed in the Reasi, Kathua, and Doda districts of J&K over the past week, which have claimed 11 lives, including that of a CRPF jawan and two terrorists.
In a related development, sources revealed that the top leadership of terror groups Jaish-e-Mohammed and Hizb-ul-Mujahideen met in Pakistan’s Rawalakot on June 10, a day after the Reasi attack. A “call to bleed India more like yesterday” was allegedly made during the meeting.
Meanwhile, security forces have launched a massive search and cordon operation in the Kalal area of the Nowshera sector in Rajouri district following suspicious movement of two persons. The forces have been put on high alert in Poonch and Rajouri, which have witnessed a surge in terror activities in the past two years, the officials said.
