Police alongwith Army achieved a major success by neutralizing 02 terrorists including a dreaded terrorist of proscribed terror outfit LeT Yousuf Kantroo who was amongst the list of top 10 most wanted terrorists, in an encounter at Malwah area of Baramulla.

Acting on specific information generated by Budgam police, a special team of Budgam Police alongwith Army (62RR) launched a joint cordon & search operation in Malwah area of Baramulla. During the search operation as the joint search party reached the suspected spot, the hiding terrorists fired indiscriminately upon them in which four (04) soldiers including one officer received minor injuries. The fire was effectively retaliated leading to an encounter. Later on Baramulla Police headed by SSP Baramulla also joined in operation. One policeman from Baramulla district also got injured in encounter who was later on shifted to Army’s base hospital in Srinagar.

In the ensuing encounter, so far 02 terrorists of proscribed terror outfit LeT including a dreaded terrorist commander Yousuf Kantroo, one of longest surviving terrorist, were killed and their bodies were retrieved from the site of encounter. Terrorist Yousuf Kantroo earlier joined as an OGW of HM outfit and was arrested in the year 2005. Later on, he was released in the year 2008 but he again joined terrorist rank in the year 2017 and started killing innocent civilians, policemen and political workers. Later on he switched from HM to LeT terror outfit. However, the identification of the other killed terrorist is being ascertained.

As per police records the killed terrorists were categorized terrorists and part of groups involved in several terror crime cases including attacks on Police/SFs and civilian atrocities.

Pertinently, terrorist Yousuf Kantroo was involved in dozens of civilian atrocities & SFs personnel killings including killing of SPO Mohd Ishfaq Dar and his brother Umer Ahmad Dar resident of Chatabugh Budgam on 26/03/2022, killing of BDC Chairman Late Sardar Bhupinder Singh on 23/9/20 in his own native place in Khag, killing of NC Block president at Natipora Chanapora Srinagar, killing of Tajamul Mohidin Dar resident of Guttapora Budgam on 21/03/2022, killing of Gulzar Ahmad of Lawaypora at Narbal, killing of Tanveer Zargar of Chewa at Narbal, killing of Nazir Ahmad Dar (an employee of Health department) resident of Warihama at Warihama, killing of Sarpanch Manzoor Ahmad of Pattan. Besides, he was also involved in grenade throwing incidents, abduction and killing of police and SF personnel including killing of CRPF personnel HC Riyaz Ahmad Rather resident of Nawgam Anantnag at Kanihama by lobbing Grenade on deployment on 23/12/2017, abduction and killing of constable Mohd Ashraf Rather @Ishfaq resident of Archanderhama Magam, abduction and killing of Army Personnel Mohd Sameer Malla resident of Lokipora Khag on 07/03/2022, killing of SPO Mohd Altaf during an encounter at Peth-Zanigam, killing of one Ex-SPO Naseer Ahmad Khan resident of Buchipora Kawoosa Khalisa. Moreover, he was also involved in snatching 4 AK rifles from the residence of Legislature Muzafar Parray at J-13 Jawahar Nagar Rajbagh. Furthermore, on his directions Abrar Nadeem (neutralized terrorist) carried out an attack on CRPF at Lawaypora Srinagar in which 3 CRPF personnel attained martyrdom on 25/03/2021.

In addition to this, the killed terrorist was also involved in recruiting innocent/gullible youth into terror folds including recruitment of Faisal Hafeez Dar of Aaripanth Magam into terrorist ranks.

Meanwhile, while commenting on a video which went viral on Social Media, in which mother of a trapped terrorist while mourning is heard saying, "come back my son, you are too young and innocent, these old cruel terrorists have deceived you, they are Pick-pocketers & goons who are enticing innocent and young boys”, IGP Kashmir yet again appealed parents of other terrorists to appeal to their wards to shun the path of violence. He congratulated the joint team of forces for conducting successful anti-terrorist operation by eliminating the top most wanted terrorist Yousuf Kantroo.

Incriminating materials, arms & ammunition were recovered from the site of encounter. All the recovered materials have been taken into case records for further investigation. Three more terrorists are still inside cordon and exchange of fire is going on. Further information will be shared accordingly.