Srinagar, Jul 27 (KNS): A Jaish-e-Mohammad commander from Pakistan, responsible for blasts in Arihal Pulwama and Banihal, was killed along with his associate in an encounter with security forces in Banday Mohalla, Bonbazar, Shopian in South Kashmir’s Shopian district on Saturday, police said.

A police spokesman said slain commander Munna Lahori from Pakistan was responsible for partial car blast attack on Security Force convoy on 30/3/19 at Banihal and fatal car blast on Army vehicle at Arihal Pulwama on 17/6/19.

“Lahori was known for IED making and was responsible for a series of civilian killings in the area. JeM had used him for (militant) recruitment also in the area,” he said.

The other slain militant was identified as Mir Zeenat Ul Islam of Turkawanghom, Shopian. “It was a combined group of HM and JeM and as per the Police records Zeenat was affiliated with proscribed terror outfit HM while as Munna was affiliated with proscribed terror outfit JeM. Both were wanted by law for their complicity in several terror crimes including attacks on security establishments and civilian atrocities,” the spokesperson said.

According to the Police records Zeenat was part of groups involved in several militancy related incidents. “Several terror crime cases were registered against him including case FIR No. 25/2019 pertaining to abduction and killing of a civilian Irfan Hameed of Zainapora. He was also involved in case FIR No. 23/2019 of PS Zainapora Shopian,” police said.

“Incriminating material including arms and ammunition was recovered from the site of encounter. All these materials have been taken in the case records for further investigation and to probe their complicity in other terror cases. Pertinently, with the efforts of police and security forces, it was a clean operation and no collateral damage took place during the exchange of fire,” police said and requested people to cooperate with police till the area is completely sanitized and cleared of all the explosive materials if any. (KNS)