THE JHARKHAND STORY DESK
Srinagar, April 25: In a major breakthrough in the ongoing counter-terror operation following the deadly Pahalgam attack, top Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) commander Altaf Lalli was gunned down in an encounter in Jammu and Kashmir’s Bandipora district on Friday.
The gunfight erupted in Kulnar Bazipora area after security forces launched a cordon and search operation based on intelligence inputs regarding the presence of terrorists. As the troops zeroed in, the hiding terrorists opened fire, triggering a fierce exchange in which two security personnel sustained injuries.
The operation is part of a heightened security clampdown to eliminate LeT operatives suspected to be behind the recent Pahalgam ambush, which left 26 people dead.
Meanwhile, Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi reached Srinagar to assess the security landscape in the Valley. He was briefed on the Bandipora encounter and the broader strategy by the 15 Corps Commander.
The discussions included internal counter-terror measures and the evolving situation along the Line of Control, including recent attempts by Pakistan to breach the ceasefire agreement.
