How JeM terrorist who evaded forces for 18 months was finally killed: 'He wasn't lucky this time'

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• Pakistani Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorist Adil killed in Kishtwar by security forces
• Adil evaded capture for 18 months, hiding in caves and makeshift hideouts
• Operations launched to track Lashkar commander Saifullah after Adil's death

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Security forces have eliminated a Pakistani national affiliated with the Jaish-e-Mohammad in a joint operation in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar district, delivering a major blow to Pakistan-backed terrorism in the region, NDTV reported.

The terrorist, identified as Adil, was killed during an encounter in the Chhatroo area under Trashi 1. A right-hand man of senior Lashkar commander Saifullah, Adil had been evading security forces for the past 18 months while operating from natural caves and makeshift hideouts in the difficult terrain of Kishtwar.

The week-long operation was carried out jointly by the Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police and the Central Reserve Police Force. Acting on specific intelligence inputs, security forces cordoned off the Chhatroo area on Wednesday evening, leading to a gunfight in which Adil was finally neutralised.

Officials said Adil had repeatedly managed to escape earlier operations. “On several occasions, he managed to break the cordon and flee from the encounter site. However, this time he was not lucky,” a senior security force officer said, as per the NDTV report.

Despite narrowly escaping capture nearly twenty times in the past, Adil was eventually pinned down and killed. His elimination has brought relief to local residents, who had frequently borne the brunt of his terror activities in the area.

Saifullah, also a Pakistani national, had infiltrated across the border around two years ago and has since been active in the Kishtwar and Doda regions. He is believed to have been involved in several attacks on security forces and is suspected of attempting to revive terror networks in the Jammu hinterland by radicalising local youth and drawing them into what officials describe as “gun culture.”

Security agencies have received inputs suggesting that Saifullah fled towards the northern side of Chhatroo following Adil’s killing. At least three operations have been launched to track and apprehend him, as he has remained active in the Kishtwar region for a considerable period.