Lashkar-e-Taiba's most wanted terrorist, Abu Qatal, was murdered in Pakistan on Saturday night. Qatal, a key operative of the terror outfit, was known for planning multiple attacks in Jammu and Kashmir.
According to sources, Abu Qatal, whose real name is Zia-ur-Rehman, was travelling with his security guard in the Jhelum area around 7 pm when unknown attackers opened fire. The assailants fired 15 to 20 rounds, killing Abu Qatal and one of his security guards on the spot. Another guard was critically injured.
Abu Qatal was under heavy protection from the Pakistan Army, with both Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists and plainclothes Pakistani military personnel assigned to his security.
Abu Qatal, who is a close aide of 26/11 Mumbai terror attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed, played a crucial role in the June 9 attack on a bus carrying pilgrims returning from the Shiv Khori temple in Jammu and Kashmir's Reasi district. The attack was orchestrated under Qatal’s leadership.
It was Hafiz Saeed who appointed Abu Qatal as Lashkar's Chief Operational Commander. Hafiz Saeed used to give orders to Abu Qatal, who then executed major attacks in Kashmir.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) also named Abu Qatal in its chargesheet for his involvement in the 2023 Rajouri attack.
On January 1, 2023, a terror attack targeted civilians in Rajouri’s Dhangri village. The attack was followed by an IED blast the next day. Seven people, including two children, died, and many others were seriously injured in the attacks.
NIA charge-sheeted five accused, including three Pakistan-based handlers of the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) outfit, in the Rajouri attacks case.
As per NIA investigations, the trio had orchestrated the recruitment and dispatch of LeT terrorists from Pakistan to target civilians, particularly from the minority community in Jammu & Kashmir, as well as security personnel.
Several security agencies, including the Army, had been tracking Abu Qatal for his role in multiple terror incidents in Jammu and Kashmir.
