Jammu

A terrorist killed along the Line of Control in Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir during a failed infiltration attempt has been identified as a launching operative of the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), officials said on Wednesday.

According to the army, the terrorist was neutralised in the general area of Jhangar in the Nowshera sector around 3 pm on Tuesday while he and an associate were attempting to infiltrate from across the border.

Based on documents and intelligence inputs, the deceased was identified as Hamza Yousaf, a resident of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

Officials said Yousaf was a senior operative of LeT’s launchpad module tasked with facilitating the infiltration of armed terrorists into the Indian side, and his killing was a significant setback for the proscribed outfit.

Security forces recovered a large cache of arms and ammunition from the slain terrorist, including an AK-type rifle with two magazines, two pistols with four magazines, 58 rounds of ammunition, three hand grenades, a mobile phone, two SIM cards and Pakistani currency.

However, his associate managed to escape and retreat to the Pakistani side during the encounter, officials added.

This was the second infiltration bid foiled by the army in the Rajouri sector this month. On March 4, troops opened fire on infiltrating terrorists in the Turkandi area, forcing them to retreat.

Earlier, another infiltration attempt was foiled in the Sunderbani area of Rajouri during the intervening night of February 19 and 20, when security forces recovered arms and ammunition.

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“A robust operational posture and heightened alert continue across the sector. The wall stands vigilant – every infiltration bid will fail,” the army had said.