The militant, code named Abu Hanzalla, from Multan in Pakistan, was active in South Kashmir in the last two years and was a deputy of the most wanted LeT chief in Kashmir Abu Qasim.

In a joint operation early on Friday, the Jammu and Kashmir Police and security forces arrested a Pakistani militant operating as Lashkar-e-Taiba “district commander” in Kulgam area of South Kashmir.

The Hindu learned from official sources that the Special Operations Group of Kulgam District Police with the units from Rashtriya Rifles 62 battalion and Central Reserve Police 18 battalion arrested Mohammad Naveed Jat alias Chhotu, code named Abu Hanzalla, of Boriwal Sahiwal, Multan, from a hideout before he could escape or open fire.

The militant from Punjab Province of Pakistan was active in South Kashmir in the last two years and was a deputy of the most wanted LeT chief in Kashmir Abu Qasim.

Abu Hanzalla, now under sustained interrogation of the police and security forces, is believed to be involved in planning and executing a number of attacks including some on the soft targets. Even before the sustained interrogation, he admitted to have killed two Special Police Officers outside the District Court in Pulwama during the Lok Sabha elections. He also divulged how he fired on a police party in Shopian when five policemen and civilians sustained injuries and Abu Hanzalla with two local associates escaped.