Lashkar district commander of south Kashmir killed in encounter.

SRINAGAR: A Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist was on Wednesday killed in a brief gunfight in Bandarpora village in Pulwama district when he was travelling in a car. SSP Pulwama Choudhary Muhammad Aslam said that the militant was identified as Ayub Lelhari. “He was travelling in a Tavera cab along with the driver and a civilian in Banderpora, Quoil area. He opened fire but was killed in the retaliatory fire by security forces,” the SSP said. “We arrested the driver but the civilian fled from the spot,” he said, adding that the operation concluded.

Police said that Ayub, who hailed from Lelhar village of Kakapora in Pulwama, was District commander of LeT for Pulwama district.
Director General of Police, SP Vaid appreciated his policemen for killing the LeT militant.

“Ayub Lelhari district commander LeT eliminated in #Pulwama. Excellent work boys!,” Vaid tweeted after the encounter

Reports said that Army party from 55 RR had laid an ambush in Bandarpora area and as soon as a vehicle passed through the road, they fired upon it killing LeT commander Muhammad Ayub Lone alias Ayub Lelhari.

Local residents said the vehicle was intercepted and it led to a very brief encounter. A policeman was also injured in the firefight, said DIG South Kashmir.

Director General of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) RR Bhatnagar said that an effective strategy has been formulated to deal with the stone-pelting incidents in Kashmir Valley. He said that all the security agencies have been working in coordination to deal with the law and order situation.

He was talking to reporters on the sidelines of a function in Srinagar city. Responding to a question, he said that the situation in Kashmir is definitely under control.

He said, police and paramilitary CRPF personnel are being trained in standard operating procedures (SOPs) to help them deal with stone pelting incidents in Kashmir. He said the strategy, training and new SOPs had been formulated.

“Using non-lethal ammunition mostly, we along with JK police have devised a strategy to put to work during strikes and stone pelting and you will see its effect soon,” he said.

Talking on the counter-insurgency operations, Bhatnagar said the forces were succeeding.

“There is a good coordination between police, Army and CRPF. All are working as one unit,” he said.

Referring to the killing of

Hizbul Mujahideen

operational commander Muhammad Yasin Itoo, the

DG CRPF

said 132 militants had been killed this year including seven commanders.

“In the coming time, we will have more successes,” he said