Three Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists, including two Pakistanis, were killed in an anti-militancy operation in south Kashmir’s Pulwama on Sunday afternoon. The slain terrorists have been identified as Arif Ahmed Hazar alias Rehan, deputy of top Lashkar-e-Taiba commander Basit, Pakistani terrorist Abu Huzaifa alias Haqqani and Nathish Wani alias Haider, a resident of Khanyar in Srinagar.
During the joint cordon and search operation of Police and Army (50RR) in the said area, all three were surrounded. “The hiding terrorists fired indiscriminately at the search party, which retaliated effectively,” the police said.
Terming the operation “a huge success”, Inspector General of Police Vijay Kumar said, “Rehan was recruited by former Lashkar-e-Taiba chief Abbas Sheikh and was part of the killer group of slain terrorist Mehran. Mehran After his death, Basheet became No. 1 and Rehaan became No. 2.
According to police records, Arif Hazar was involved in the 2021 murder of Inspector Parvez in front of the mosque in Menganwari Nowgam, Sub-Inspector Arshid Ahmed Mir in Khanyar, Javed Ahmed, a police personnel at Saidapora Idgah and Umar Nazir Bhat, a mobile shop owner. In Main Chowk Habba Kadal.
“He was also involved in the attack on two outside laborers in Suthsu Kalan area of Nowgam on April 22 this year,” police said.