Udhampur, January 25
In a big success, the security forces killed self-styled commander Bashir Ahmed alias Sabah, who was alleged mastermind of the Uttar Pradesh serial blasts, in an encounter here late last night.

The self-styled supreme commander of the Harkat-ul-Jihadi Islami (HuJI) was engaged in an ambush, which lasted for one hour, with the commandos of the state police at Khushal village at Chatroo area in Kishtawar district. A satellite phone, a wireless set and some AK rifles were recovered from the slain militant.

Senior superintendent of police (SSP) Kishtwar, Mumtaz Ahmed, told the Tribune that killing of Sabah was a big success for the security forces as the slain militant was longest serving ultra in this mountanious district of Jammu province. He said the ultra was responsible for training and recruiting militants in UP’s Faizabad and Varanasi districts.

After arrest of Sajjad-ul-Rehman, a student of Deoband, who was arrested from Khushal village for his alleged involvement in Uttar Pradesh blast, the HUJI chief was being tracked by the Jammu and Kashmir police for nearly a month.

The blasts, which took place in three court premises of Uttar Pradesh in November last year, had killed more than dozen people including some advocates. One more youth Tariq Ahmed was also arrested from Kishtwar for his alleged involvement in Uttar Pradesh blast.

“During interrogations of Sajjad-ul-Rehman and Tariq Ahmed, Bashir Ahmed’s involvement was established in Uttar Pradesh blast,” said the SSP, adding, "For the last one month Sabah was being tracked by the police as he was a motivator, who was motivating youth to indulge in militant activities.”

According to SSP, the commandos of the state police launched a search operation at Chattroo area on a specific information, which resulted in the killing of the dreaded ultra. The SSP further said Bashir Ahmed's role was also being probed in the twin blasts at Hyderabad.