Jahangeer Ganaie
Pulwama, Jul 31: The most wanted Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM) commander ‘Lamboo’ also known as “cordon breaker” and his local associate were killed in an encounter with security forces in forest area of Nambian and Marsar in southern district of Pulwama on Saturday.
Police said while Lamboo was one of the key conspirators of February 14, 2019 Lethpora suicide attack, second slain militant identified as Sameer Ahmed Dar of Pulwama, an A+ category militant, was also named in the NIA chargesheet in Lethpora case. Police said Lamboo was a “cordon breaker” and had escaped many cordons.
A police official said that acting on a specific lead, police and the soldiers from the Victor Force launched a “deliberate operation” on July 27 in the woods of Nambian and Marsar while due to the inclement weather, some cautions had to be taken. “Today (July 31 ) morning, contact was established with the Lamboo and in a brief exchange of fire, he along with Sameer were killed,” the official said.
Police while terming the killing of Lamboo as a big success said that he was an IED expert and the most wanted JeM militants operating in South Kashmir. Police said Lamboo was a key conspirator of February 14, 2019 fidayeen attack at Lethpora, Pulwama in which 40 CRPF men were killed. In a tweet, IGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar said that the second slain has been identified as Sameer Dar an A+ category militant, a resident of Pulwama. He said that Sameer was also involved in Lethpora suicide attack and fired in NIA’s chargesheet. “Out of 19 accused in Lethpora attack, eight militants have been killed so far,” the IGP said in the tweet.
Meanwhile, a Police spokesman in a statement issued to KNO said that on a specific input generated by Police regarding presence of militants in the forest area of Namibian and Marsar, general area of Dachigam forest, a joint cordon and search operation was launched by Awantipora Police and Army in the area.
“During the search operation, the hiding militants fired on the joint search party, which was retaliated leading to an encounter. In the ensuing encounter two militants were killed. One of the killed militants has been identified as top most Pakistani militant Muhammad Ismal Alvi alias Lamboo alias Adnan, affiliated with JeM,” the spokesman said, adding that as per police records Mohammad Ismal Alvi alias Lamboo was A++ categorized militant and figured among the list of most wanted militants operating in the valley.
“He was a highly trained militant especially expert in making of IEDs. He was instrumental in planning and executing attacks on security establishments and civilian killings. He was the mastermind and main accused in the February 2019 Lethpora Fidayeen attack. He was also involved in the killing of SPO Fayaz Ahmed, his wife and daughter in Tral, recently,” the police spokesman said. “Moreover, the killed militant was carrying out activities in P.D Awantipora, District Pulwama and district Anantnag. He was a close associate of militant Abdul Rehman alias Fauji alias Idrees Bhai R/o Multan Pakistan who along with two local associates were killed in an encounter at Kangan Pulwama on 03-06-2020. He was trying to re-establish and strengthen JeM outfit and utilize Awantipora especially Kakpora and Pampore area of Pulwama as a hot bed for receiving new militant groups and transporting them to the other parts for carrying out attacks,” the police spokesman said.
He said that Lamboo was closely associated with Jaish chief Masood Azhar and had infiltrated into this side of Kashmir in the year 2017 through Sakargadh Sector. “He had also visited several training camps of JeM in Afghanistan and Pakistan. He has earlier escaped from many encounters/cordon & search operations including at Doniwari Chadoora Budgam on 04/03/2020, Parigam Jagir Pulwama on 19/11/2020 & Kalenvan, Bijbehara Anantnag On 07/07/2021,” the police spokesman said. “There were 19 accused /OGWs involved in Lethpora attack case. Out of 19, seven militants including Adil Dar, Mudasir Khan, Umar Farooq, Kamran, Qari Yasir,Sajjad Bhat and today Mohd Ismal Alvi alias Lamboo were killed in encounters, seven militants /OGWs have been arrested and five are still absconding.”
The police spokesman said that incriminating materials, arms and ammunition including 01 AK rifle, 01 M-4 Carbine, a Glock pistol, Chinese Pistol were recovered from the site of encounter.
