Pulwama 2.0 plotter among 3 JeM ultras killed in gunfight

Our Correspondent

Anantnag, June 3

Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) top IED expert Abdul Rehman, alias Fauji Bhai, who was an Afghan war participant and mastermind behind the recently foiled Pulwama 2.0 bid, was killed in a gunfight with security forces today. Two local militants were also killed.

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Vijay Kumar termed Abdul Rehman’s killing as a huge success for the security forces. “Hailing from Multan in Pakistan, Rehman had been active in Kashmir since 2017,” Kumar said.

Police sources said the other two militants killed in the gunfight were locals named Javed Zargar of Rangmulla and Manzoor Kar of Sirnoo.

Today’s gunfight, which took place in the Kangan area of Pulwama district, was second in as many days in the south Kashmir district. Two JeM militants were killed on Tuesday morning in the Tral area. A senior police official said a cordon and search operation was launched in Astan Mohalla of Kangan on Wednesday morning following a tipoff.

“The house where the militants were holed up was zeroed in on and the militants asked to surrender. They, however, opened fire and were neutralised in the ensuing gunfight,” the official said.

75 militants killed this year: IGP

• According to Kashmir IGP Vijay Kumar, 75 militants have been killed this year so far
• “Two IED experts of the JeM are still active in Kashmir. They have been identified as Waleed Bhai and Lambu Bhai,” he added
• He said present JeM chief Abdullah Rashid Ghazi would also be killed or arrested soon