Security forces’ cordon and search op turns into encounter in J&K’s Handwara area

An encounter broke out between terrorists and security forces in the Handwara district of Jammu and Kashmir on Monday, officials said.

Security forces launched a cordon and search operation in Krumhoora village of Zachaldara following information about the presence of terrorists in the area, they said.

The search operation turned into an encounter after the terrorists opened fire at the security forces.

LeT terrorist shot dead in Pakistan

Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorist Abu Qatal, charge-sheeted by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in connection with the January 2023 Rajouri attacks, was shot dead in Pakistan after an assailant opened fire on his vehicle on the Mangla-Jhelum Road, local media reported on March 16.

An armed guard of Qatal was also killed in the attack that took place on Saturday night, as reported by an Islamabad-based outlet, The News International.

Following Qatal's assassination in Pakistan, foreign affairs experts have suggested that Hafiz Saeed, the mastermind behind the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, might face a "similar fate" soon.

Speaking with ANI, foreign expert Robinder Sachdeva said that Abu Qatal's killing indicates that those tracking LeT founder Hafiz Saeed and other terrorists are closing in.

"Hafiz Saeed's close aide was killed, which means those who are tracking them have reached quite close. It is said that those who live by the sword die by the sword, and Hafiz Saeed might as well have to face a similar fate. Abu Qatal was involved in a lot of attacks in Kashmir, Rajouri, Poonch, PoK," Sachdeva said.

He added that no terrorist is truly safe in Pakistan, even with the Army's protection and that they will eventually be “hunted down.”

Qatal was the nephew of Hafiz Saeed, the founder of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and the mastermind behind the 26/11 Mumbai attacks. Saeed is wanted in India for numerous rerror-related cases.

Gulmarg fashion show

A Srinagar court has set for April 8 a hearing against the organisers of a fashion show held in Gulmarg during Ramzan over allegations of obscenity and of hurting religious sentiments.

The show was held on March 7 in Gulmarg and triggered outrage among public and politicians. Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah admitted that the hotel where the show was held belongs to his relatives.

He also said that such events are not under the jurisdiction of the Jammu and Kashmir government, and they are not in favour of holding such events.

Speaking in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly, the Chief Minister said earlier, "A private party was organised, a fashion show was organized there. From what I saw, it should not have been organised at any time of the year, let alone the month of Ramzan."

(With inputs from agencies)