SRINAGAR (TIP): The state police, the Army and the CRPF, in a joint operation, killed Lashkar-e-Toiba chief Abu Ismail, the mastermind of the Amarnath yatra attack, and his accomplice on the outskirts of Srinagar on September 14.

Around 4.15 pm, the two terrorists hiding in the area were killed in a “very brief and crisp encounter”, Kashmir’s Inspector General of Police Muneer Khan said. “They were identified as Abu Ismail from Pakistan and Abu Qasim, known as Chota Qasim, also from Pakistan,” he added.

On July 10, militants had attacked a bus carrying Amarnath pilgrims near Batingoo Anantnag, leaving eight passengers dead and 19 injured, triggering outrage across the country. Terming the attack “un-Islamic”, Lashkar had denied any role, but the J&K Police claimed to have arrested two persons who had “helped” the three militants led by Ismail to carry out the attack.

“The mastermind has been killed but two militants, one a foreigner, are at large,” Khan said. The GOC of Army’s counter-insurgency unit in south Kashmir, Maj Gen BS Raju, said Ismail’s killing was a huge setback to LeT.