**SEO Title:** Top LeT Commander Killed in Bandipora Encounter
**Meta Description:** Altaf Lalli, a top Lashkar-e-Taiba commander, was killed in Bandipora, Jammu and Kashmir, during an operation linked to the Pahalgam terror attack.
**URL Slug:** let-commander-killed-bandipora-encounter
**Headline:** Top Lashkar-e-Taiba Commander Altaf Lalli Killed in Bandipora Encounter
In a significant operation, Altaf Lalli, a prominent commander of the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), was killed during an encounter with security forces in Bandipora, Jammu and Kashmir. This operation is part of ongoing efforts to apprehend LeT terrorists believed to be responsible for the deadly terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22, which resulted in the deaths of 26 individuals.
On Friday morning, a joint search operation was initiated by the Indian Army and Jammu and Kashmir Police based on specific intelligence regarding the presence of terrorists in the area. The operation led to contact with the terrorists, resulting in a fierce firefight. Reports indicate that one of the terrorists sustained injuries during the initial exchange of gunfire. Additionally, two police personnel, members of a senior officer’s personal security team, were injured in the encounter.
In a related development, Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi arrived in Srinagar to receive updates on the ongoing operation in Bandipora. He is expected to conduct a thorough security review and evaluate the progress of efforts aimed at tracking down LeT terrorists linked to the Pahalgam attack.
On the same day, security forces, along with Jammu and Kashmir authorities, demolished the homes of two terrorists believed to be involved in the Pahalgam attack. The residence of Lashkar terrorist Adil Hussain Thoker in Bijbehara was destroyed using explosives, while the house of Asif Sheikh in Tral was razed with a bulldozer. Thoker is suspected of playing a crucial role in facilitating the attack carried out by Pakistani terrorists in the picturesque Baisaran Valley.
The Anantnag Police have announced a reward of Rs 20 lakh for information leading to Thoker and two Pakistani nationals, Ali Bhai and Hashim Musa, who are believed to have executed the attack. Sketches of the trio have been released as security forces intensify their search for the attackers.
Eyewitness accounts from survivors reveal that the assailants, dressed in military fatigues, checked identification to confirm the religion of their victims, executing those identified as non-Muslims at point-blank range. The attackers, estimated to number between four and five, emerged from the dense pine forests surrounding Baisaran Valley and opened fire indiscriminately on tourists.
In conclusion, the ongoing operations in Jammu and Kashmir highlight the relentless efforts of security forces to combat terrorism and ensure the safety of civilians in the region. The situation remains dynamic as authorities continue to pursue leads related to the Pahalgam attack.
**FAQ Section:**
**Q: What was the significance of the encounter in Bandipora?**
A: The encounter led to the death of Altaf Lalli, a key commander of Lashkar-e-Taiba, and is part of broader efforts to apprehend terrorists involved in the Pahalgam attack that killed 26 people.
