Jammu and Kashmir: LeT commander Naveed Jatt shot dead in Budgam encounter

Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) commander, Naveed Jatt, was killed on Wednesday in a gunfight in Jammu and Kashmir’s Budgam district, police sources said.

Jatt was wanted for the murder of senior journalist Shujaat Bukhari.

According to the sources, Jatt, alias Abu Hanzullah, was among the two militants killed in the gunfight that broke out earlier in the day during a cordon and search operation in Kuthpora village.

Jammu and Kashmir police tweeted, “#Budgam encounter update: Among the two #terrorists killed, one is identified as #NaveedJatt alias Hanzallah affiliated with proscribed #terror outfit LeT.”

Jatt a resident of Multan in Pakistan, had escaped from police custody on February 6, when he was being taken for a medical check-up to a hospital from the Srinagar Central Jail.

Naveed Jatt was among the top LeT militants wanted by the security forces.

Jatt was believed to be involved in the murder of Bukhari, the then Editor-in-chief of English daily Rising Kashmir.  

Bukhari was shot dead by militants along with two of his guards in the Press Enclave area in the city.