New Delhi:
As many as 66 terrorists have been gunned down by security forces in Jammu and Kashmir this year, ANI quoted sources as saying. Of these, 27 belonged to Jaish-e-Mohammed out of which 19 were killed after the February 14 terror attack on a CRPF convoy in Pulwama which left 40 jawans dead, they said.
Sources further said that the entire team of Jaish-e-Mohammed involved in the dastardly terror attack was neutralised within 45 days of the attack through combination of technical and human intelligence based operations. "This also includes arrest and deportation of Jaish cadre who were involved in the operation in any way," they added.
The terrorists killed in different encounters with security forces include Kamran who was neutralised on February 18 -- four days after the attack. Kamran was a close aide of Jaish chief Maulana Masood Azhar and is believed to be a key conspirator of the Pulwama terror attack.
Three terrorists, including Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) chief Maulana Masood Azhar's nephew, were killed in an overnight encounter with security forces in November 2017. They were identified as Talha Rasheed, one of the most wanted terrorists and Maulana Masood Azhar's nephew; Mehmood Bhai and Wasim Ahmed Ganai.
In August 2017, security forces had killed top LeT commander Abu Dujana in Pulwama. Pakistan-born Dujana, one of India's most wanted, was in charge of terror operations in the Valley.
Two terrorists, including Nisar Ahmed Tantray and Sajjad, are in NIA custody for their role in the terror attack, sources said.
Sources revealed that Tantray helped the 19-year-old Pulwama suicide bomber Aadil Ahmed Dar by getting a vehicle-based improvised explosive device (IED) from Yasir, a Pakistan-based Jaish terrorist.
