A top militant of Jaish-e-Mohammad militant outfit was killed in an encounter with security forces in Tral area of south Kashmir’s Pulwama district on Wednesday.

A police spokesman said, “on a specific input generated by Awantipora Police regarding presence of terrorists in Tilwani Mohalla Waggad area of Tral, a joint cordon and search operation was launched by Police, Army and CRPF in the area”.
“During the search operation, they were given repeated opportunities to surrender. Instead, they fired indiscriminately upon the joint search party which was retaliated leading to an encounter. In the ensuing encounter one terrorist was killed,” he said.
The deceased was identified as Shamus-ud-Din Sofi alias Sham Sofi, a top commander of JeM.
“As per police records, Sofi was categorized and active since June-2019 figuring among the list of most wanted terrorists operating in the valley. He was also part of groups involved in several attacks on security establishments and civilian atrocities to which several cases stands already registered against him,” the police spokesman said.
He said Sofi was first arrested in 2004 & detained under PSA.
“He was also involved in providing logistic support, shelter to active terrorists operating in Tral area before joining terror folds. Moreover, he was also involved in motivating local youth to join terror folds, reviving the terror folds in Tral area and conspiring to destabilize the system by means of various acts. Besides, he was also involved in threatening the law abiding citizens and policemen also,” the police spokesman said.
IGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar congratulated the forces for the “big success that led to killed of most wanted terrorist involved in several cases.”