JeM commander and key conspirator of Pulwama attack killed in Kashmir

Security forces killed a top Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) commander and “key conspirator” of the Pulwama attack Mudasir along with a Pakistani terrorist, lending a major success to their all-out efforts to eliminate the top leadership of Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) outfit in Kashmir. Commander of Army’s Srinagar-based 15 Corps Lt Gen K J S Dhillon said here on Monday that 18 terrorists, including two top conspirators of the Pulwama attack, have been killed in the last three weeks. Of them, 14 belonged to JeM, he said.

“We have gone very very forcefully against Jaish so that they are not able to carry out any further attacks. We have gone against Jaish to eliminate its top leadership... The main conspirators Kamran and Mudasir have been eliminated," Dhillon said, addressing a press conference jointly with CRPF Inspector General Zulfikar Hassan and Inspector General of Jammu and Kashmir Police S P Pani. While Kamran, a Pakistani-terrorist and mastermind of the Pulwama attack, was killed on February 18, Mudasir, a local, was eliminated along with Pakistani terrorist Khalid in an encounter in Tral area of south Kashmir.

“Mudasir was one of the main conspirators who coordinated the (Pulwama) attack,” Dhillon said. Regarding who fabricated the Improvised Explosive Device (IED) that was used to target the CRPF convoy in Pulwama on February 14 is being investigated, Dhillon said.

Mudasir’s body was identified by his family members and he has been buried, he added. In three weeks after the Pulwama attack, 18 terrorists have been eliminated, the Corps Commander said and declared that operations against the terrorists will continue with the same zeal.

“Our focus has been the elimination of JeM leadership. In three weeks, we have done so,” he said. He said while focussing on Jaish, the security forces have not stopped targeting the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Hizbul Mujahideen outfits.

“Lashkar and Hizbul are also on the radar,” the Corps Commander said, adding two each terrorist have been killed over the last few days. To questions over the number of people involved in the Pulwama attack, the Corps Commander refused to share details, saying the matter is under investigation and “there are a lot of positive leads that are being pursued.”

Talking about the latest encounter in Tral, Dhillon said Mudasir was the main target of the operation which was launched on the basis of specific information. The CRPF IG said the killing of Mudasir was “doubly significant” for his force as the slain terrorist was involved, not only in the attack on CRPF convoy in Pulwama but also on a CRPF camp in December 2017.

“I congratulate all the security forces. It was a clean operation. But the job is not done yet,” Hassan added. He said the people who radicalised Mudasir and supplied explosives to him, will be dealt with.

“We are working in close coordination with the NIA. I am sure, rest of those involved in the Pulwama attack will be dealt with,” he said, adding anyone who raises the gun against the country will be dealt with accordingly. The CRPF IG also said that after the attack on the convoy, “we are learning lessons.” H said various initiatives have been taken but details cannot be shared.

IGP of state police Pani said significant gains have been made over the last fortnight in efforts to break the back of terrorism in Kashmir. Pani and Dhillon said the recruitment of locals for terrorism in Kashmir has come down in the last three months.

While referring to the suicide attacks by terrorists, the Corps Commander said, “we are keeping track... Any kind of modus operandi that terrorists may try to use, we are prepared.” He went on to add, “while one incident comes to light, 99 incidents are averted because of the security forces, intelligence agencies.”

Pani said the JeM module eliminated during the recent days was trying to recruit locals for terrorism and investigation in this regard is being conducted.

(With inputs from agencies.)