Jammu and Kashmir: Shujaat Bhukari assassin Naveed Jatt killed in Budgam encounter

Top Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist Naveed Jatt, wanted for the assassination of Kashmiri journalist Shujaat Bukhari, was killed in an encounter with security forces in Jammu and Kashmir's Budgam district on Wednesday, news agency ANI reported. Earlier, exchange of fire was underway between terrorists and security forces in the Chattergam area of the district.

Budgam Encounter #UPDATE: Naveed Jatt and another terrorist gunned down by security forces. Jatt was involved in the assassination of journalist Shujaat Bukhari #JammuAndKashmir pic.twitter.com/lWcLJwOCFp

— ANI (@ANI) November 28, 2018

"This week was great, those involved in killing of innocent people in Kulgam, Pulwama and Shopian belt were neutralized. As per ground verification, top Lashkar-e-Taiba commander Naveed Jatt was one of the two terrorists killed today," said J&K DGP Dilbagh Singh

The authorities have snapped Internet services in Budgam as a precautionary measure while train services have been suspended across Kashmir.

Journalist Shujaat Bukhari was shot dead outside his office at Press Enclave in Srinagar on June 14. The Jammu and Kashmir Police had later revealed that the plot to kill Bukhari was hatched in Pakistan and that the LeT carried out the crime.

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Lashkar-e-Taiba militant Naveed Jatt was active in south Kashmir, the hotbed of militancy, and involved in multiple attacks between 2013-2014 before he escaped from Srinagar's SMHS hospital on February 6. Two policemen were killed in the hospital shootout. 

Jatt was last seen offering a gun salute to Waqar Ahmad Sheikh at his funeral in Shopian's Malikgund village.

Earlier, another Lashkar-e-Toiba terrorist accused of assassinating senior Kashmiri journalist Shujaat Bukhari - Azad Ahmad Malik - was shot down in Anantnag encounter.

On Tuesday, an encounter between terrorists and security forces had broken out in the Redwani area of Kulgam district killing two terrorists. A soldier was also martyred in the fierce gunfight. Incriminating material including arms and ammunition were recovered from the site of encounter and the police have registered a case and initiated an investigation in the matter.