-Yatharth Sikka
Al-Badr top terrorist Abdul Gani Khawaja was killed in an encounter on Tuesday, March 9, 2021, in north Kashmir’s Sopore district. Police called the killing of the most wanted terrorist commander Gani Khawaja a major success.
On Tuesday evening, a joint team of J&K Police, army and paramilitary forces cordoned off the Tujjar village of Sopore after specific inputs about the presence of terrorists.
As the team zeroed in on the house where the terrorists were hiding, the latter opened fire, triggering a gunfight.
“After the search operation, when the presence of the terrorist was ascertained, he was given an opportunity to surrender. However, he fired indiscriminately upon the joint search party, leading to an encounter,” the police said in an official statement.
“In the ensuing encounter, one terrorist was killed, and his body was retrieved from the site,” the statement added.
J&K Police said that he was also involved in providing arms and ammunition to the members of the terrorist organisation for carrying out subversive activities in the area.
“He was operating in the areas of North Kashmir including Langate, Upper/Lower Qaziabad, Handwara, Sopore, Zainageer, Tujjar, Barahampora etc.,” police said.
Abdul Gani Khawaja was earlier associated with Hizbul Mujahideen.
