The security forces in Kashmir dealt a major blow to banned Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM) outfit by killing its “divisional commander” for south Kashmir Noor Mohammad Tantry, who spent a decade in jails before recycling to revive the Jaish outfit. Tantray, alias Noor Trali, was dwarf, about 4 feet in height, but highly articulate in organisational skills. He was described by the security agencies as “new security headache”.
Sources said the security forces cordoned-off Samboora area of Pampore in south Kashmir late on Monday night after specific input on presence of a group of terrorists in a residential area. The contact with the holed up terrorists was established soon after but there was lull afterwards throughout the night. The encounter began early on Tuesday.
Police said Noor Trali was one of the “chief architects” of attack on Border Security Force (BSF) camp near Srinagar airport earlier this year.
“In a significant breakthrough, Awantipora Police, Army and CRPF acting on a specific input cordoned a cluster of houses at Samboora which resulted in a fierce gun battle leading to elimination of top JeM commander Noor Mohammed Tantray,” said a police spokesman. He said Trali was convicted in a case registered in 2003 in Delhi and was serving his sentence at Central Jail Srinagar until he was out on parole in the year 2015.
“Consequently, he remained in Tral and became a major over ground worker of JeM in the belt,” said the spokesman.
Sources said Tantray, a resident of Dar Ganaigund village in Tral sub-district joined terrorist ranks in July this year after he was summoned by local security camps for his alleged role in organising protests. He was instrumental in public mobilisation in the aftermath of killing of three JeM terrorists in the area, which ultimately triggered his formal joining. He was later seen brandishing automatic weapons despite being handicapped.
Officials said Trali was the chief architects of the BSF camp attack near Srinagar airport and was wanted in a number of offences in South and Central Kashmir.
The killing triggered spontaneous shutdown in Pampore and Tral quarters. However, thousands of people converged at his native village to take part in funeral prayers. A group of terrorists appeared amid a horde of people and offered gun salute to the slain terrorist.