Srinagar, Sept 30: Security forces on Wednesday killed senior Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) commander Musa alias Asif Fauji in an encounter in Budgam district, with the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) saying his death has wiped out a four-member LeT group blamed for several major attacks in Jammu and Kashmir since 2022.
The encounter broke out late Tuesday evening at Gurwatkalan in Khansahib area after security forces launched a joint search operation based on specific intelligence about the presence of terrorists, officials said.
The Army’s Chinar Corps said the operation was launched by the Indian Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police and CRPF in the general area of Korag, Yousmarg. During searches, troops observed suspicious movement and challenged the suspects, following which the terrorists opened fire, triggering an exchange of fire in which one militant was killed.
The slain terrorist was identified as Musa, also known as Asif Fauji. He was wanted in connection with several attacks in J&K and had escaped a previous encounter in the Yousmarg hills earlier this month in which his close aide Yasir was killed.
The MHA said security forces had been pursuing Musa for a long time and had recently launched a coordinated operation after receiving technical and human intelligence regarding his movement and presence.
According to the Ministry, Musa was the last member of a four-member group of senior LeT commanders operating in J&K since 2022. The group, it said, was involved in several attacks, including those at Halan, DKG, Kandi, Shahsitar, Shiv Khori, Gagangir, Bootapathri and Baisaran.
The other three members of the group were killed in separate encounters—Junaid Bhat in Dachigam in December 2024, Suleman during Operation Mahadev in July 2025 and Yasir during Operation Asdhar earlier this month, the MHA said.
The operation against Musa was part of the ongoing Operation Sheruwali, launched in May 2026, the Ministry said.
The Army said the operation in the Budgam area was continuing.
The latest operation comes amid heightened security across J&K following reports of terrorist movement in the Pir Panjal mountain range. Security forces have been conducting sustained counter-terrorism operations in the forested and hilly areas of Rajouri, Poonch, Kishtwar, Doda, Ramban and other districts, while maintaining heightened surveillance in vulnerable areas of the Valley.
The MHA said Jammu and Kashmir Police, Army and Central Armed Police Forces have been conducting counter-terrorism operations in close coordination.
