Thaindian News

Srinagar, March 10 (IANS) Sajad Afghani, chief commander of the Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM) guerrilla group, was Thursday gunned down by security forces in this Jammu and Kashmir summer capital, police said, describing the killing as a major success.

“Sajad Afghani, the chief commander of JeM terror outfit, and his guard Bilal, both foreigners, were killed in a gunfight with security forces in the Dal Lake Foreshore area of the city today,” S.M. Sahai, inspector general of police (IGP) Kashmir zone, told IANS here. He added that they were Pakistani nationals.

Describing Sajad as being at the top of the wanted list of terrorists in the valley, he said the guerrilla leader had come to Srinagar to organise a major terror strike. This was established by the recovery of arms and ammunition from him.

“He had been active for the last eight years. He had recently masterminded an attack at the residence of SP (superintendent of police) Sopore. He also masterminded militant attacks in Qamarwari area of the city last year and the attacks in Pattan town in which two CRPF (Central Reserve Police Force) jawans were killed,” Sahai said.

Sajad’s primary areas of activities were Rafiabad, Sopore and Tarzu areas in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, the official said, describing the killing as a “big success”.

The police chief told reporters that the JeM chief and his guard were moving on Dal Lake Foreshore Road when the Maruti car in which they were travelling was intercepted by security forces. The duo opened indiscriminate firing, triggering a gunfight that ended after the two people were killed.

“Two security men and a civilian woman were injured in the heavy exchange of fire between the militants and the security forces,” Sahai said.

Tension gripped the otherwise busy Foreshore Road and adjacent areas as the heavy exchange of gunfire started.