Jammu and Kashmir: One terrorist killed during gunbattle with security forces

The slain terrorist has been identified as Zeenatul Islam.

The police said he belonged to the Jaish-e-Mohammed terror outfit.

Police said he was involved in a series of terror attacks on security establishments and civilian killings.

"#Shopian Encounter Update: So far dead body of 01 #terrorist retrieved. Identified as Zeenatul Islam. Affiliated with proscribed #terroroutfit #JeM. Involved in series of #terrorattacks on security establishments & #civiliankillings. Search in the area continues.
@JmuKmrPolice," Kashmir Zone Police tweeted.

The terrorist has been killed at a time when the state government directed Amarnath Yatra pilgrims to cut short their stay in the Kashmir Valley "immediately" and go back.

The statement was issued by the government in the backdrop of intel inputs on terror threats.

"Keeping in view the latest intelligence inputs of terror threats, with specific targeting of the Amarnath Yatra, and given the prevailing security situation in the Kashmir Valley, in the interest of safety and security of the tourists and Amarnath Yatris, it is advised that they may curtail their stay in the valley immediately and take necessary measures to return as soon as possible," the state government said in a statement.

The Indian Army on Friday said that intelliegence reports have revealed that terrorists backed by the Pakistan Army are trying to disrupt the Amarnath Yatra.

The army said snipper rifle and landmine were recovered on the path where the pilgrimage takes place.

The Army made the revelations at a time when the country is gearing up to celebrate the Aug 15 Independence Day.

Earlier, Intelligence sources told IBNS that a Pakistan emboldened by the visit of Prime Minister Imran Khan to the United States, has reactivated its terror launch pads against India in the Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK) with plans to trigger something big in Kashmir.

"Terror launch pads in PoK, which were dismantled and pushed back to interior, have now been reactivated," sources told IBNS.

According to Indian sources, Jaish-e-Mohammad chief  Masood Azhar's brother Ibrahim Azhar had been relocated to PoK to oversee the affairs.

Indian sources said the Indian troops have been sent there (Kashmir) for this reason, amid heavyexchange of cross-border firing between Indian and Pakistani soldiers along the Line of Control in  Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday claiming the lives of two Pakistani soldiers.

One Indian trooper was killed in another sector during the latest ceasefire violations by Pakistan. Pakistan even resorted to artillery firing in Tangdhar sector forcing a befitting response by Indian troopers.