Acting on specific information regarding the presence of terrorists, a joint cordon and search operation was launched in the wee hours of Friday by Police, Army (34RR) and CRPF (178Bn) in Chotigam village area of Shopian. As the search operation team approached towards the suspected spot, the hiding terrorist fired indiscriminately upon them. The security forces retaliated to the firing, leading to an encounter.

"In the ensuing encounter, one terrorist was killed and his bodies was retrieved from the site of encounter. He has been identified as Bilal Ahmed Bhat son of Ghulam Rasool Bhat resident of Chek Cholan, affiliated with proscribed terror outfit LeT," a statement said.

Who is Bilal Ahmed Bhat?

Police said, as per their records, Bilal Ahmed Bhat was involved in several terror crime cases including killing of local army personnel namely Umer Fayaz, hurled grenade upon non-local labours in Hermain, that killed two labourers.

The LeT terrorist was also involved in killing of Kashmiri pandit Sunil Kumar Bhat and injuring other Kashmiri pandit Pretimber Nath, both residents of Chotigam Shopian. Bilal Ahmed Bhat was also involved in attack on local Bal Krishan, resident of Chotigam. He was also involved in instigating local youth to join terrorist ranks and induced 12 local youth into the ranks of terrorists.

Besides other terror crimes, Bilal Ahmed Bhat was also involved in killing of arrested terrorist who was leading the search party during a CASO at Nowgam in 2022.