2019 Pulwama attack: J&K cops kill alleged mastermind
The mastermind behind a 2019 attack that killed 40 Indian paramilitary troops has been killed in a shootout with security forces, Indian police in Kashmir said yesterday.
Mohammad Ismail Alvi, the commander of militant organization Jaish-e-Mohammad JeM) was killed south of the regional capital Srinagar, Vijay Kumar, the police chief of Kashmir told Reuters.
"Mohammad Ismail Alvi alias Lamboo alias Adnan was from the family of Masood Azhar. He was involved in conspiracy and planning of Lethpora Pulwama attack," Kumar said.
The encounter broke out early yesterday morning in Pulwama's Dachigam forest area. Security forces launched a cordon and search operation following inputs about the presence of terrorists there, NDTV said qouting a police official.
The search operation turned into an encounter after terrorists opened fire at a search party of the forces, who retaliated, the officer said.
A suicide bomber rammed a car into a bus carrying Indian paramilitary police in Kashmir on February 14, 2019, killing 40 of them in the deadliest attack in decades on security forces in the disputed region, raising tensions with arch foe Pakistan.
The Pakistan-based Islamist militant group JeM claimed responsibility for the attack.
The Indian government accused Pakistan of letting militant groups operate from its soil. Islamabad said it rejected the suggestion it was linked to the attack.
Days later, India carried out airstrikes on a Jaish camp in Pakistan's Balakot, which was followed by an aerial dogfight with the Pakistan Air Force, which had targeted Indian military installations.
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