Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) Terrorist Quari, Expert Sniper and IED Assembler, Gunned Down in Rajouri District Encounter

Army officials announced on Thursday that a hardcore Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) terrorist was killed in an encounter in the dense forest of Kalakote in Rajouri district. The terrorist, identified as Quari, was a Pakistan national and an expert sniper who was trained in guerrilla warfare and assembling improvised explosive devices (IEDs). He was also a highly ranked leader of the LeT and had been active in the Rajouri-Poonch region for the past year.

Quari was believed to be the mastermind behind the Dhangri and Kandi attacks. In January this year, seven members of the Hindu community were killed in Dhangri village in Rajouri district. In April, five soldiers were ambushed in Poonch, and in May, five commandos of the Para special forces were killed in an IED blast in the Kandi forest.

According to sources, Quari was sent to revive terrorism in the region and operated from caves in the jungles. He was well-versed in IEDs and was known for his sniper skills. The encounter with Quari and another terrorist began on Wednesday morning when security forces laid a cordon around the area. During the operation, two captains, a havaldar, and a jawan were killed.

The army officer leading the operation stated that the terrorists were heavily armed and that additional reinforcements had been rushed to the area. Drones were being used to locate the terrorists, who were believed to be well-entrenched in the treacherous mountainous region. The encounter site is located near Baji Sahab Darbar on the Bravi link road in Kalakote, approximately 95km from the Line of Control.

This year has seen a spike in terrorism in the Rajouri and Poonch districts. The Northern Army commander had previously warned that nearly 200 terrorists were waiting to infiltrate from across the Line of Control in Pakistan. However, the alert troops deployed at the borders have been working to eliminate them.

The encounter with Quari highlights the ongoing efforts of security forces to combat terrorism in the region and protect civilians from further attacks. The army will continue its operations to ensure the safety and security of the people in Rajouri and Poonch.