In a major success for security forces, the most wanted Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT)/The Resistance Front (TRF) commander Basit Dar was among two militants killed in an encounter in Redwani Payeen village of south Kashmir’s Kulgam district on Tuesday.
Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir Zone, Vijay Kumar Birdhi, confirmed that the dreaded militant Basit Dar was gunned down along with two other militants in a fierce gunfight with joint forces.
“It is a big achievement for the forces as Basit Dar was behind many militant attacks, especially in Srinagar. Basit was also the mastermind behind the spat of civilian killings,” the top police officer stated.
Basit Dar, a resident of Redwani Kulgam, had been missing from his home for the last three years and had joined the TRF, which is a front organization of the banned LeT outfit.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) had announced a reward of Rs 10 lakh for information leading to the arrest of Basit Ahmed Dar, who headed the TRF. IGP Birdhi hailed the operation as a major blow to militancy in the Kashmir Valley. Security forces have intensified anti-militancy operations in recent months, resulting in the elimination of several top commanders of various outfits.
The encounter gained significance as Dar was involved in several high-profile attacks in Srinagar city and adjoining areas over the past two years. His elimination is expected to affect the LeT’s operational capabilities in the region.
