LeT Jammu chief, carrying 10 lakh reward, liquidated

New Delhi, July 18 (UNI) In a major success for the security forces a top Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) commander, carrying a reward of Rs ten lakh, was killed in an encounter at Doda in Jammu region early morning today.

Khalid-ur-Rehman alias Abu Umar (32), Chief Operational Commander of Jammu LeT, was killed in a joint operation of the Delhi Police Special Cell, 4 Rashtriya Rifles and the J&K Police at Bhaderwah in Doda district (Kashmir) at about 0400 hrs today, Jt Commissioner (Special Cell) Karnal Singh told the media.

''Operating in Jammu region for the last one decade Abu Umar had been on the Delhi Police radar ever since his name cropped up early this year when two LeT members were arrested from Dilli Haat on April 26.'' Following specific information security forces surrounded a house at Mohalla Havelli in Bhaderwah (Doda district) where the LeT commander had taken shelter and asked him to surrender. In return, he fired at them with an AK 56 rifle which led to a constable getting injured, said the Jt CP.

''From there he sneaked into a nearby house and killed its owner Sukra Begum, wife of Ali Abdul Gani, when she resisted his move to take shelter. Later in retaliatory fire, Umar was killed.'' Huge quantity of ammunition, an AK 56 rifle and magazines were among arms recovered from the encounter spot, he informed.

A resident of Bahawalpur in Pakistan, Umar was wanted for the May 30 killing of Deputy Superintendent of Police Shelly Singh of J&K Police's Special Operations Group and was operative in Jammu region since 1998, the Jt CP he said, adding that he was involved in several cases, including nearly half a dozen this year itself.

He was also involved in a foiled assassination bid on the life of Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad at the newly-created Ramban district in J&K, Mr Singh added.

UNI