LeT Associate Altaf Lalli Killed in Bandipora Encounter; Two Policemen Injured in Ongoing Anti-Terror Operation
A Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) associate, identified as Altaf Lalli, was gunned down by security forces during an ongoing operation in the Bandipora district of Jammu and Kashmir, officials confirmed on Friday.
The encounter took place in the Kulnar area of Ajas, where joint security forces launched a search operation following a specific intelligence input about the presence of terrorists in the region.
Exchange of Fire Leaves Two Policemen Injured
During the gunfight, two police personnel sustained gunshot injuries. They were swiftly evacuated and admitted to a nearby medical facility. Their condition has been reported as stable.
“On 25 April 2025, based on specific intelligence input regarding presence of terrorists, a Joint Search Operation was launched by the #IndianArmy and @JmuKmrPolice in general area Kolnar Ajas, Bandipora. Contact was established and a firefight ensued. Operation is in progress,” the Indian Army’s Chinar Corps stated on X (formerly Twitter).
Security Forces on High Alert Following Pahalgam Attack
This operation comes in the wake of heightened security measures across the Kashmir Valley following a terrorist attack in Pahalgam on 22 April, in which 26 people were killed. The massacre took place in Baisaran Valley, a popular tourist destination near Pahalgam, and has been described as the most devastating terror incident since the revocation of Article 370 in 2019.
According to survivor accounts, six foreign terrorists, disguised in Army uniforms, targeted civilians by asking them to reveal their names and recite Islamic verses. Once identified, they were gunned down at close range.
Crackdown Intensifies
In response to the attack, the Indian Army and Jammu and Kashmir Police have stepped up search and cordon operations in multiple districts. Officials are actively tracking militant movement to prevent further violence and ensure public safety.
The elimination of Altaf Lalli is being viewed as a significant development in the counter-terrorism efforts in the region. However, with the operation in Bandipora still ongoing, authorities remain vigilant and anticipate further confrontations.
