Slain ultra was Lashkar launchpad’s senior operative: Army

JAMMU: A day after alert Army personnel gunned down a “Pakistan-sponsored” terrorist during an infiltration bid along the Line of Control in J&K’s Rajouri district, officials on Wednesday said the slain ultra was a senior operative of Lashkar-e-Taiba’s launchpad module, tasked with pushing armed terrorists into India from the launching pad in his area.

Troops combing the site in Jhangar, Nowshera, where the terrorist was killed — while attempting to sneak into India along with an associate — recovered his ID card. It identified him as Hamza Yousaf, a resident of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. “His associate managed to cross back to Pakistan during Tuesday’s gun battle,” a senior official said.

Army men seized a cache of arms and ammunition from the spot of the firefight, including an AK-type rifle with two magazines, two pistols with four magazines, 58 rounds, and three hand grenades. Other items recovered included a mobile set, two SIM cards, a wallet, and Pakistani currency.

A defence spokesperson said that troops had been reoriented to ensure relentless domination of the area, supported by integrated ground and aerial surveillance; a robust operational posture and heightened alert continued across the sector.

Earlier this month, the Army had foiled an infiltration bid by a group of terrorists along the LoC in Rajouri district on March 4. Last month, soldiers had thwarted another infiltration attempt along the LoC in Nathua Tibba area of Sunderbani on Feb 19. Troops had recovered arms and ammunition during a subsequent search of the area the following day.
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