Journalist Shujaat Bukhari’s killer Naveed Jatt killed in Budgam encounter

Srinagar: Top Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) commander Naveed Jatt, who was involved in the killing of ‘Rising Kashmir’ editor-in-chief Shujaat Bukhari, was among two militants killed in an encounter with security forces in central Kashmir’s Budgam district on Wednesday morning.

Three security force personnel were also injured in the encounter.

A police official told UNI that following specific information about presence of militants, a joint Cordon and Search Operation (CASO) was launched by Special Operations Group (SOG) of state police, Army and CRPF in Chattergam in Budgam.

He said when security forces were moving towards a particular area, the militants hiding there, fired at them with automatic weapons. “The security forces retaliated, ensuing in an encounter,” he said.

Three security force personnel were injured in the initial exchange of fire, he said, the wounded were immediately taken to a hospital.

He said two militants were later gunned down in the encounter. “One of the slain militant has been identified as Naveed Jatt alias Hazallah, a top LeT commander,” he added.

Jatt was involved in the killing of Mr Bukhari and two of his guards in the Press Enclave area in the summer capital, Srinagar on June 14.

The Top LeT commander, a resident of Multan in Pakistan, was lodged in Central Jail Srinagar for two years before escaping from SMHS hospital, Srinagar earlier this year, when jail authorities had taken him there for a checkup. Jatt was arrested from south Kashmir in 2014. Since his escape in February this year from the prison, Jatt had many narrow escapes during many CASOs and encounters. (UNI)