Srinagar Encounter: Security forces have killed Lashkar-e-Taiba commander Usman in an encounter in Khanyar area of Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir. Along with nine hours of precise planning, biscuits also played an important role in killing Usman. Senior officials said that security forces had received intelligence about Usman’s presence in the densely populated residential area of Khanyar, due to which nine hours of precise planning was made to make the operation successful. There should be minimal loss in it. However, there was presence of stray dogs during this expedition which became a headache. We were afraid that their barking might alert the terrorists.
He said that to counter this, biscuits were given to the search teams. When these teams moved towards the target, they fed biscuits to the stray dogs to pacify them. Full deployment of security personnel was made before Fajr Namaz (morning prayers) and a cordon was laid around 30 houses. During this, Usman, armed with AK-47, a pistol and several grenades, started firing fiercely at the security forces. After this the security forces also started retaliating. During the encounter, the house caught fire due to the explosion of some grenades, which was immediately controlled by the security forces, so that it did not spread to the nearby houses. Usman was killed in a fierce encounter that lasted for several hours.
Four security personnel injured in encounter
The officer said that four security personnel were injured in the encounter, whose condition is said to be stable. With this operation, the security forces have achieved a major success especially against ‘The Resistance Front’, a branch of Lashkar-e-Taiba, which has been involved in attacking non-local laborers and security personnel.
Security personnel are expert in finding unique solutions
He further said, “The successful operation highlights the extent to which officers can go and find unique solutions for the success of the operation. This encounter is not only a significant moment in counter-terrorism efforts in Jammu and Kashmir, but It also tells about the challenges faced by the security forces in maintaining peace in the region.” Officials said this was the first significant encounter in the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir in more than two years. This anti-terrorism operation was successful due to the joint efforts of the local police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).
