Srinagar: The operation that left the Lashkar-e-Toiba head and mastermind of the Amarnath yatra attack Abu Ismail dead along with his associate was planned in a meticulous way and the gunfight lasted barely three minutes.In fact, when Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh was in Kashmir, security agencies had received a tip-off about Ismail’s presence on the outskirts of Srinagar at Aribagh in Nowgam, where yesterday’s gunfight took place. The input, however, was not as specific as the one received yesterday, police sources said.They said that the intelligence input about the Pakistani militant commander’s presence in a house in Aribagh was generated by the police in south Kashmir who were keeping surveillance on him. Ismail used to operate mostly in south Kashmir and used to stay around Srinagar for a brief time.“On Thursday when we got information about the exact location, immediately an operation was planned. Forces in civvies travelled in private vehicles to the area to ensure that their movement was not noticed by militants. They surrounded the house and other members ensured that all exit points were sealed. Fifteen minutes later, a crack team of forces launched the assault and Ismail came out of the house firing at the forces from one side to break the cordon and another militant jumped from the back door to flee. In three minutes, Ismail was killed along with his associate,” a police officer said.Inspector General of the CRPF Ravideep Sahi said Ismail was planning to carry out an attack around Srinagar. “He could have even been planning a fidayeen attack,” the IG said.While Ismail and his aide were buried late Thursday night in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, the J&K Police will approach the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi and ask them to claim the body of the two militants.
How they closed in on him
- On Thursday, the police got inputs about the exact location of Abu Ismail (in pic)
- Forces in civvies travelled in private vehicles to the area, surrounded the house and sealed all exit points
- Fifteen minutes later, a crack team of the forces launched the assault
- Ismail came out of the house firing at the forces to break the cordon. Another militant jumped from the back door to flee
- In three minutes, Ismail was killed along with his associate
‘Desecration of bodies’
The Army has taken cognisance of a video that surfaced on the social media showing soldiers allegedly disrespecting bodies of the two militants killed in an encounter on the outskirts of Srinagar on Thursday. “The Army has taken cognisance of the video and suitable action is being taken,” the Srinagar-based defence spokesman said. (TNS)