Rashtriya Rifles troops opened fire on Sulaiman Shah, alias 'Musa', in the dense forests of Dudhpathri, Budgam, on Tuesday. The terrorist, a top figure in Lashkar-e-Taiba, was neutralized after exchanging heavy gunfire with security personnel in the higher reaches of the district, officials confirmed.
The operation, codenamed by the Chinar Corps, targeted the general area of Korag in Yousmarg. Army forces detected suspicious movement in the zone. When challenged, the militants returned fire. The exchange lasted until 'Musa' was killed. The operation continues to sweep the area for other potential threats.
This is not the first time security forces have cornered this cell. On September 5, an encounter in the Yousmarg hills killed 'Musa’s' close confidant, Yasir. 'Musa' escaped that specific firefight. He had been on the run since then, evading multiple search operations in the Pir Panjal range.
The intelligence community views this elimination as a critical disruption. 'Musa' was implicated in numerous cross-border attacks over the past decade. His death shatters the LeT's command structure in central Kashmir, officials stated. The group now faces a severe operational vacuum in the region.