In a major feat of the Indian Armed Forces, security forces on Saturday gunned down Mohammed Ismail also known as Abu Saifullah, the nephew of Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Maulana Masood Azhar, in an encounter in south Kashmir's Awantipora in Pulwama district.

"Mohd Ismail Alvi alias Lamboo alias Adnan was from family of Masood Azhar. He was involved in conspiracy and planning of Lethpora Pulwama attack and figured in chargesheet produced by NIA," IGP Kashmir said in a tweet.

"One of the killed terrorists in Pulwama is Mohammed Ismail alias Idrees alias Lamboo. He is an IED expert, with his role in several terror attacks," DG Dilbagh Singh told India Today.

Mohammed Ismail Alvi was an IED Expert and was suspected to be behind the Pulwama attack which had claimed the lives of 40 CRPF personnel in 2019. Ismail was killed along with another terrorist by the security forces.

Security forces launched a cordon and search operation in the forest area of Namibian and Marsar and the general area of Dachigam this morning, following inputs about the presence of terrorists there, a senior police official said.

He said the search operation headed by General Rashim Bali of the Indian Armed Forces alongside Jammu and Kashmir police and intelligence on Saturday, turned into an encounter after terrorists opened fire at a search party of the forces, who retaliated.

"He (Lambu) was involved in a series of terror attacks, including the Pulwama attack of February 14, 2019, along with others. Adnan was a very strong associate of Pakistan-based top JeM hierarchy of Rauf Azhar, Maulana Masood Azhar and Ammar," the senior official said. 

The official also said that details on the identity of the second terrorist are awaited and added that a M-4 rife, AK-47 rifle, a Glock pistol as well as another pistol was recovered from the dead terrorists.

Image courtesy: India Today