Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) chief operational commander Abu Dujana was killed in Pulwama on Tuesday morning, setting off violent protests across the State in which a civilian died and over 30 others were injured.
His local associate, Arif Nabi Dar, alias Rehan alias Lelhari, a resident of Kakapora, was also killed along with him. Dujana had survived five major encounters in the past.
“We tried to persuade Dujana and his associate to surrender through the owner of the house in Pulwama they were hiding in. They did not,” said Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kashmir, Muneer Khan, explaining how they ended up killing the militants. “Good riddance,” he said.
27-year-old Dujana and Lelhari were tracked by security agencies around 4 p.m. to Pulwama’s Hakripora area. The house was subsequently blasted. Police said they were working on “a specific input” after Dujana escaped a close encounter in Pulwama with the forces on July 20.
Security forces allegedly opened fire when locals, throwing stones, tried to converge on the encounter site. Police said a civilian, identified as Firdous Bhat, was caught in the “cross fire.” He succumbed to his injuries later. Another critically injured civilian was shifted to a Srinagar hospital.
“Despite disruptions by protesters, the security forces will continue their operations. Every active militant is a potential target,” said IGP Khan.
Dar’s body was allowed to be buried at his native place in Pulwana. Hundreds of locals participated in the funeral. However, Dujana’s body was buried at the hillside of Boniyar in Baramulla district, far away from populated areas.
Violent protests
The killing of the two militants and the civilian led to a shut down in Pulwama, Shopian, Kulgam, Srinagar and Kupwara. Students clashed with the security forces at many places, forcing the authorities to close down all educational institutions for two days. Internet and rail services were stopped too.
Prize catch
Dujana, who took over from Abu Qasim as operational commander after the latter’s death in a shootout on October 29, 2015, is believed to be the mastermind behind a series of attacks on security forces on the Srinagar-Jammu highway. He is also suspected to have masterminded two suicide attacks — at the Entrepreneurship Development Institute Pampore in 2016 and the Hyderpora attack in 2013.
“Dujana was instrumental in recruiting the local youth into LeT,” said the police. He would appear at militants’ funerals and galvanise support for militancy through fiery speeches. He had addressed gathering at the funeral of militant Burhan Wani.
He was placed in the ‘A-plus-plus’ category of militants and a ₹15 lakh reward was announced for his head.