Top Lashkar commander Yousuf Kantroo killed in Baramulla

Kantroo was involved in several civilian and security personnel killings: Kashmir IGP

Police said that Kantroo was also behind the killing of District Development Council (DDC) chairperson Bhupinder Singh.(Representational/File)

Top Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) commander Mohammad Yousuf Dar alias Yousuf Kantroo was among the two militants killed in a gunfight in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district on Thursday. Four soldiers and a policeman were also injured in the gunfight that started early Thursday morning at Malwah village.

“He (Kantroo) was involved in several killings of civilians and security personnel, including the recent killing of JKP’s (Jammu and Kashmir Police) SPO (special police officer) and his brother, a soldier and a civilian in Budgam district,” Kashmir Zone Police quoted Kashmir Inspector General of Police (IGP) Vijay Kumar in a tweet.

Police said that Kantroo was also behind the killing of District Development Council (DDC) chairperson Bhupinder Singh. Singh was killed in Khag area of Budgam two years ago. Police termed Kantroo’s killing as a “big success” for the security establishment.

Early on Thursday, a joint team of J&K Police and the Army cordoned off Malwah village, bordering Baramulla and Budgam districts, after inputs about the presence of militants. As the joint team was cordoning off the area, militants in the village opened indiscriminate fire and tried to break the security cordon. In the initial burst of gunfire, three soldiers were injured. In the subsequent gunfight, a soldier and a policeman were injured. The injured policeman and the soldiers have been hospitalised.

Kantroo first joined militancy in 2000. Though he was arrested twice, he returned to militancy after his release from jail. He was active since 2017 and was among the most wanted militant commanders in central Kashmir. Police sources said that Kantroo normally operated in central Kashmir’s Budgam district and its peripheries in Baramulla and Srinagar districts.

Police are yet to ascertain the identity of the second militant killed as the military operation is still on.

Bashaarat Masood

Bashaarat Masood is a Special Correspondent with The Indian Express. He has been covering Jammu and Kashmir, especially the conflict-ridden Kashmir valley, for two decades. Bashaarat joined The Indian Express after completing his Masters in Mass Communication and Journalism from the University in Kashmir. He has been writing on politics, conflict and development. Bashaarat was awarded with the Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Awards in 2012 for his stories on the Pathribal fake encounter. Expertise and Experience Two Decades of Frontline Reporting: Bashaarat has spent 20 years documenting the evolution of Kashmir, from high-intensity conflict and political shifts to socio-economic development. Award-Winning Investigative Journalism: He is a recipient of the prestigious Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Award (2012). This honor was bestowed for his reporting on the Pathribal fake encounter, a series of stories that highlighted his ability to handle sensitive human rights and security issues with investigative rigor. Specialized Beats: His authoritative coverage spans: Political Transitions: Tracking the shift from statehood to Union Territory, electoral dynamics, and the pulse of local governance. Security & Conflict: Providing nuanced reporting on counter-insurgency, civil liberties, and the impact of the conflict on the civilian population. Development: Documenting the infrastructure, healthcare, and educational landscape within the Valley. Academic Background: He holds a Masters in Mass Communication and Journalism from the University of Kashmir, providing him with a localized academic and professional foundation that is rare in regional reporting. ... Read More

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