LeT outfit linked terrorist Basit Dar, wanted in 18 cases, among two killed in Kulgam encounter
08 May 2024 10:38:43
Kulgam, May 8: Two terrorists were killed during an encounter with security forces in Jammu and Kashmir's Kulgam on Tuesday. Basit Dar, who was an active operative of the Resistance Front (TRF), a Lashkar-backed terrorist organisation, was also killed in the encounter. This came after terrorists attacked Indian Air Force convoy in Poonch, killing one and injuring five others.
Security forces had launched a cordon and search operation in Kulgam's Redwani area late on Monday after they had received information about the presence of terrorists in the area. The search operation turned into an encounter which went on till Tuesday. The gunfire intensified after the house in which two terrorists were cornered caught fire on Tuesday morning.
In 2023, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) announced a cash bounty of Rs 10 lakh on Kulgam-based 'The Resistance Front' (TRF) commander militant Basit Ahmed Dar. Notably, TRF is an offshoot of LeT, and its cadre is active in Kashmir, mostly in South Kashmir. He was involved in more than 18 cases of killing of police personnel and civilians, the Inspector-General of Police Kashmir said.
Basit Dar, a resident of Redwani Payeen, Kulgam in south Kashmir, is said to be the mastermind behind civilian and targeted killings in Kashmir. Dar was an 'A' category terrorist. The categories such as A+, A, B and C etc are determined by the Jammu and Kashmir Police based on operatives' nationality, training, exclusivity, duration of activation, number of terror attacks carried, weapons in their possession, and popularity.
The Kulgam encounter has occurred in the wake of the Poonch terror attack in which one air warrior was killed and four others injured. The encounter in Kulgam comes at a time when political parties are campaigning for the Lok Sabha polls in the Anantnag-Rajouri constituency. Kulgam is part of this Lok Sabha constituency.
What happened?
Security forces had launched a cordon and search operation in Kulgam's Redwani area late on Monday after they had received information about the presence of terrorists in the area. The search operation turned into an encounter which went on till Tuesday. The gunfire intensified after the house in which two terrorists were cornered caught fire on Tuesday morning.
Who is Basit Dar?
In 2023, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) announced a cash bounty of Rs 10 lakh on Kulgam-based 'The Resistance Front' (TRF) commander militant Basit Ahmed Dar. Notably, TRF is an offshoot of LeT, and its cadre is active in Kashmir, mostly in South Kashmir. He was involved in more than 18 cases of killing of police personnel and civilians, the Inspector-General of Police Kashmir said.
Basit Dar, a resident of Redwani Payeen, Kulgam in south Kashmir, is said to be the mastermind behind civilian and targeted killings in Kashmir. Dar was an 'A' category terrorist. The categories such as A+, A, B and C etc are determined by the Jammu and Kashmir Police based on operatives' nationality, training, exclusivity, duration of activation, number of terror attacks carried, weapons in their possession, and popularity.
The Kulgam encounter has occurred in the wake of the Poonch terror attack in which one air warrior was killed and four others injured. The encounter in Kulgam comes at a time when political parties are campaigning for the Lok Sabha polls in the Anantnag-Rajouri constituency. Kulgam is part of this Lok Sabha constituency.