Terrorist who killed Kashmiri Pandit bank guard in J&K’s Pulwama neutralised

A terrorist was neutralised by security forces in an encounter in Awantipora in Jammu and Kashmir, police said on Tuesday. The terrorist was identified as Aqib Mustaq Bhat, who initially worked for proscribed terror outfit Hizbul Mujahideen, had been working with Lashkhar-e-Taiba's local offshoot The Resistance Front (TRF). ADGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar said that Bhat was involved in the recent killing of a Kashmiri Pandit, Sanjay Sharma, in Pulwama.

Watch: J&K: Killer of Kashmiri Pandit Sanjay Sharma eliminated in Awantipora encounter | Details

Quoting Kumar, Kashmir Zone Police tweeted, "Killed terrorist identified as Aqib Mustaq Bhat of Pulwama (A category). He initially worked for HM terror outfit, nowadays he had been working with TRF. Killer of late Sanjay Sharma #neutralised."

The encounter took place at Padgampora village in Awantipora tehsil under Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir, days after targeted killing of yet another Kashmiri Pandit.

Earlier in the day, Kashmir Zone Police said, "Encounter has started at Padgampora Awantipora in Pulwama district. Police and security forces are on the job. Further details shall follow."

Updating about the operation against the terrorists, Jammu and Kashmir Police said, "one terrorist was killed in the encounter. However, his body is yet to be retrieved."

Sanjay Sharma, a resident of Achan in Pulwama, was fired upon by terrorists when he was on his way to a local market on Sunday. The 45-year-old, who worked as a bank security guard, succumbed to injuries in the hospital.

Kashmiri Pandit Sangharsh Samiti, a prominent Pandits’ body in the Valley, urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah to replace L-G Manoj Sinha.

"KPSS most humbly with folded hands request Hon'ble Prime Minister and Hon'ble Home Minister to rest their personal agendas and self-conceit and take the issue seriously and replace the current Lt. Governor immediately for letting the Kashmiri Pandits to be killed by the militants for some vested agenda and vendetta to malign the ruling political party at the national and international level," the statement read.