Srinagar: The mastermind of the audacious Pulwama terror attack that killed 40 CRPF personnel on February 14 is believed to have been killed along with two other terrorists in an encounter with the security personnel in the Tral area of South Kashmir, officials said on Monday.
The bodies of the three terrorists including Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terrorist Mudasir Ahmed Khan alias ‘Mohd Bhai’ have been recovered by the security forces.
Efforts are on to identify the other two terrorists whose bodies are charred beyond recognition.
The security forces launched a cordon and search operation in Pinglish after receiving specific intelligence input about the presence of the terrorists in the area yesterday.
The encounter took place when the security forces retaliated after the terrorists opened fire at them during the search operation.
According to the security officials, Khan (23) is an electrician with a graduate degree and a resident of Mir Mohalla of Tral in Pulwama. After completing his graduation, Khan did a one-year diploma course as an electrician from an Industrial Training Institute (ITI).
Khan was an active member of the JeM since he joined the terrorist outfit in 2017.
Suicide attacker Adil Ahmed Dar, who blew his explosive-laden vehicle next to a bus in a CRPF convoy on February 14, had been in constant contact with Khan, officials said.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA), which is probing the terror attack, had carried out searches at the residence of Khan on February 27.
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