Lashkar commander killed

The Jammu and Kashmir police today claimed to have killed Saifullah, the Lashkar-e-Toiba LeT divisional commander for the border Rajouri-Poonch districts, dealing a serious blow to the outfit8217;s activities.

He is believed to have been behind the attacks on the Ragunath Temple complex in Jammu as well as the massacre at Rajeev Nagar in the city. His last strike was the killing of five Hindu labourers in Kalakote area last month.

Senior Superintendent of Police for Rajouri district Farooq Khan said this was a major success for the police and security forces, taking their count of top militant commanders eliminated in the district during the last six months to 16.

Today8217;s operation was carried out on the basis of a specific tip-off in Baanj area, about 5 km north-east of Thanamandi. After an hour-long gunbattle, Saifullah was shot.