Pulwama encounter: Deputy of Kashmir’s most wanted terrorist killed

On Saturday, six terrorists including a close aide of Zakir Musa, a most wanted terrorist belonging to Kashmir, have been neutralised in an encounter with security forces in Pulwama district. It is to be noted that Soliha, also known as Rehaan Khan, was the deputy chief of Musa’s group Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind, which has alleged links with Al-Qaeda.

According to reports, security forces had launched a search operation in the Awantipora area located in south Kashmir district after they received specific intelligence input about the presence of terrorists there. When forces were conducting searches, terrorists fired upon them which led to the encounter.

“Weapons and war-like stores have been recovered. The operation is over,” a Defence Ministry spokesman said.

In November, Punjab had been put on high alert after he was seen near Amritsar. Posters of Zakir Musa were put up across the state following inputs that he along with seven members of the terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed were believed to be sighted in Ferozepur.

Earlier November, the Punjab Police had arrested two students, who were associated with his terrorist organisation in connection with Maqsudan Police Station hand-grenade blasts case of September 14.

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