Top LeT commander Altaf Lalli killed in Bandipora after Pahalgam terror attack
Updated: Apr 25th, 2025
In a major development following the deadly Pahalgam terror attack, a top commander of the banned terrorist outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Altaf Lalli, was killed on Friday in an encounter with security forces in Jammu and Kashmir’s Bandipora district, as per reports.
The operation is part of the intensified efforts by security agencies to trace those linked to the attack in Pahalgam, which left 28 people dead earlier this week, including a Nepali national. Acting on intelligence about the presence of terrorists, a joint search was launched by the Indian Army and Jammu and Kashmir Police in Bandipora. A firefight ensued after contact was made with the group.
One terrorist reportedly sustained injuries during the initial exchange, and two police personnel were also injured. Sources said the injured officers were part of a senior official’s security detail.
Meanwhile, in further crackdowns, security forces on Thursday demolished the residence of Adil Hussain Thoker in Bijbehara, using improvised explosive devices (IEDs). Thoker is believed to have helped facilitate the Pahalgam massacre by aiding Pakistani terrorists in planning the strike in the Baisaran Valley. Suspicious items were reportedly found at the site during a search, and a preliminary investigation suggested the presence of explosive materials.
Separately, in Tral, authorities demolished the house of another suspected accused, Asif Sheikh, with a bulldozer.
The Anantnag Police have announced a cash reward of ₹20 lakh for information leading to the arrest of Thoker and two Pakistani nationals, Ali Bhai and Hashim Musa, who are also believed to have taken part in the attack. Officials have released sketches of the three wanted individuals.
The Pahalgam attack took place on April 22 in the Baisaran meadow while US Vice President JD Vance was visiting India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi was on a foreign tour to Saudi Arabia.
The Resistance Front (TRF), widely considered to be a proxy of Lashkar-e-Taiba, is suspected to be behind the assault. While no official confirmation has been provided, reports suggest senior LeT commander Saifullah Kasuri, also known as Khalid, may have masterminded the strike.
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