Sabzar Bhat, who succeeded Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Burhan Wani, was among eight terrorists who have been killed in separate encounters in Jammu and Kashmir today. While two of the terrorists killed were holed up in a building in Pulwama district’s Tral sector, six others were killed by the Indian Army as it successfully foiled an infiltration attempt along the Line of Control or LoC in Rampur sector in Baramulla district.

The counter-terror operation in Pulwama district’s Tral sector, where Sabzar Bhat was killed, is still being carried out as one of the three terrorists holed up is in hiding. Security forces have cordoned off the area and are trying to smoke out the third terrorist who is reportedly trapped in the hideout. The operation was carried out based on specific information given by the army’s intelligence wing – that three terrorists including Sabzar Bhat were holed up in a 12-room building. According to reports, the operation is being carried out by soldiers of the Indian Army’s Rashtriya Rifles.

The second operation – in Rampur sector – where six terrorists were killed, was carried out after the alert soldiers noticed suspicious movement along the LoC in the early hours of the morning. “The infiltration attempt has been stopped successfully,” an army official confirmed.

Rampur sector is adjoining the Uri sector where the Indian Army on Friday foiled an attack by Pakistan’s Border Action Team or BAT. The two Pakistani intruders, suspected to be members of a Pak Army Border Action Team (BAT), had been eliminated by the Indian Army near a post in the Uri sector of Kashmir located at an altitude of more than 10,000 feet. The intruders had crossed the Line of Control and were very close to an Indian Army post located 600 metres from the LoC.

On May 1, Pakistani BAT teams had beheaded two Indian soldiers in the Krishna Ghati sector near the Line of Control. BAT teams are said to be composed of highly-trained Pakistani Special Services Group (SSG) commandos in addition to jehadi fighters.

Nearly 100 people were killed and over 12,000 were injured in clashes that broke out across Kashmir after terrorist Burhan Wani was killed in an encounter with security forces last year.

In February this year, Army Chief General Bipin Rawat had warned local people who appeared to sympathise with, and support terrorists, that they would be treated as “anti-nationals” and would face harsher action.