BANDIPORA, Jammu & Kashmir — A high-ranking Lashkar-e-Taiba commander, Altaf Lalli, met his end in a blazing encounter with security forces in the dense woods of Bandipora district on April 25. The operation, a surgical strike by the Indian Army and Jammu & Kashmir Police, left two soldiers wounded but dealt a crushing blow to the militant group’s operations in the region.
The firefight erupted in the early morning haze, sparked by precise intelligence pinpointing Lalli’s hideout in the Aragam area. Acting swiftly, a joint team cordoned off the zone, and what followed was a relentless exchange of gunfire. Lalli, a key figure orchestrating attacks for LeT, was cornered and killed, his body recovered amid the smoke and debris. The operation wasn’t without cost—two jawans took bullets but are stable, receiving treatment at a nearby military hospital.
Lalli’s death comes on the heels of a brutal attack in Pahalgam, claimed by the Resistance Front, a shadowy offshoot linked to LeT. Authorities had been tightening the noose on the group’s network, with Lalli high on their list. His rap sheet included masterminding ambushes and funneling arms across the valley, making him a linchpin in the terror outfit’s campaign to destabilize the region.
Security forces seized a cache of weapons at the site, including an AK-47 and grenades, underscoring the threat Lalli posed. The operation, launched at dawn, wrapped up by mid-morning, with officials confirming no civilian casualties. Bandipora, a district long plagued by militancy, has seen a spike in such encounters as forces ramp up efforts to choke LeT’s grip.
The slain commander’s elimination marks a significant dent in the group’s hierarchy, though the fight is far from over. Search operations continue in the area, with troops combing the rugged terrain for any lingering threats. For now, the streets of Bandipora are quiet, but the echoes of gunfire linger.