Wednesday 13th May, 2026
Srinagar, Mar 11: (UNI) Confirming that the mastermind in Pulwama fidayeen attack on a CRPF convoy has been killed in an encounter with security forces in south Kashmir, a top Army commander on Monday said that during the last 21 days — 18 militants, including 14 from Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), were eliminated in the valley.
As many as 40 jawans were killed in the fidayeen attack on a CRPF convoy on February 14 on Srinagar-Jammu national highway in south Kashmir district of Pulwama.
“JeM commander Mudasir Khan, who was the main conspirator of the Pulwama attack, was among three militants killed in an encounter with security forces in village Pinglish, Tral, in south Kashmir district of Pulwama on Sunday,” Lt Gen KJS Dhillon, General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the Srinagar-based 15 Corps, flanked by Inspector General of Police (IGP) S P Pani and IG CRPF Zulfiqar Hasan, told reporters during a press conference here on Monday.
He said with this, two main conspirators of Pulwama attack — Mudasir and Kamran — have been killed. Kamran was killed last month in an encounter with security forces.
Lt Gen Dhillon stressed that security forces are committed to crush militancy in the valley and the operations will continue till all JeM and foreigners militants are killed.
“Ever since the Pulwama attack, we have been after JeM. Our main focus was to eliminate JeM leadership and we have been successful in achieving our targets. The first operation against JeM was on February 18…. In the last 21 days, 18 militants, including 14 from JeM were killed in different operation. This included six top JeM commanders,” Lt Gen Dhillon said.
He said among these 18 militants killed, eight are Pakistani and 10 are locals.
Giving details about the Sunday encounter and the mastermind in Pulwama attack, the Army commander said, “Mudasir was the second in command in JeM and was the main conspirator in the national highway attack on CRPF. Another militant killed in the encounter was a Pakistani national. He was an active militant from last one year.”
He said following specific information about presence of militants, troops of Rashitriya Rifles (RR), Special Operation Group (SOG) of Jammu and Kashmir police and CRPF launched a joint search operation in village Pinglish, Tral, in Pulwama on Sunday. “Forces cordoned off the target house and in the ensuing encounter, which lasted for the night and the day, three militants were killed,” he said.
“Kamran was killed in an encounter on February 18 and today we have eliminated Mudasir. The search is still going on in the area,” he added.
Pic by Zia Shakeel