Maulana Azhar’s close aide among those killed in ‘very significant’ Tral encounter

In an encounter that took place at Tral, four Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorists were killed. This operation was an extremely significant one as one of the terrorists killed was operational commander of the Jaish. What is even more significant is that the terrorist identified as Mufti Yasir was a close aide of Jaish chief, Maulana Masood Azhar.

In a gunfight that broke out in Tral, Jammu and Kashmir four Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) terrorists were neutralised while two security forces' personnel also lost their lives on Tuesday.

A joint operation was started by the Rashtriya Rifles (RR), state police and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in Lam forest area of Tral after receiving tip-off about the presence of terrorists there.

The deceased soldier was identified as Ajay Kumar. Sepoy Kumar of 42 RR was injured in the initial firing exchange and later succumbed to his injuries at Army's 92 Base Hospital in Badami Bagh Cantonment area in Srinagar.

Constable Lateef Gujri of Jammu and Kashmir Police also succumbed to injuries.

Jammu and Kashmir police chief, S P Vaid said on his twitter that the operational chief of the Jaish, Mufti Yasir was among those killed in the joint operation in the upper reaches of Tral.

Yasir was a senior operative of the Jaish and was instrumental in reviving the outfit. He was a close aide of Azhar and it was at his behest that he was further the cause of the outfit in Kashmir. The killing of Yasir is a significant blow to the Jaish a security official informed OneIndia. He was not just a commander but also an ideological mentor to the new recruits, the officer also added.