Srinagar: A top commander of Jaish-e-Mohammed Munna Lahori was killed on Saturday morning in an overnight gunfight with security forces in south Kashmir’s Shopian district. An associate of Munna Lahori, yet to be identified, was also killed in the same operation. Munna Lahori, also known as Bihari, was from Pakistan and is accused of plotting several IED attacks in the south Kashmir region.
The 19-year-old Pakistani national had crossed over to Kashmir from Pakistan last year and is reported to have led the terror group’s use of bombs in vehicles, a tactic that could let them carry out attacks without risking their lives. Security officials say he had turned into some sort of an expert in making explosives and fitting them in vehicles for maximum impact.
Jaish had also used him to brainwash youngsters in the Kashmir valley and recruit them to the terror group.
Police said Saturday’s huge success came after a cordon and search operation was launched by security forces in Banday Mohalla Bonbazar area of district Shopian. During the search operation that started late last evening, Munna Bhai and Zeenat-ul-Islam fired at the search party. “The fire was retaliated leading to encounter,” a police statement said. It continued all night.
Munna was also involved in vehicle bomb attack on a convoy of security forces on March 30 at Jammu and Kashmir’s Banihal.
