Top LeT Commander Musa alias Asif Fauji Killed In Budgam; Entire 4-Member Group Neutralised

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Sringar: In a major success for security forces in Jammu and Kashmir, senior Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) commander Musa alias Asif Fauji was neutralised in an intelligence-led joint operation at Gurwatkalan under Khansahib Police Station in Budgam district.

Security officials said forces had been pursuing Musa for a long time and a specific all-stakeholder plan for his neutralisation was put in place after technical and human intelligence about his movement and presence was received.

The neutralisation of Musa is being seen as a serious blow to the LeT ecosystem in the Union Territory. With his killing, the entire group of four senior LeT commanders operating in J&K since 2022, and responsible for several sensational attacks, stands neutralised.

According to officials, the group was behind the Halan attack in August 2023, the Kandi attack in May 2023, the DKG attack in December 2023, the Shahsitar attack in May 2024, the Shiv Khori attack in June 2024, the Gagangir attack in October 2024, the Bootapathri attack in October 2024 and the Baisaran attack in April 2025.

The three other members of the group had been neutralised by security forces in separate encounters earlier. Junaid Bhat was killed on December 3, 2024 in Dachigam, Suleman on July 28, 2025 during Operation Mahadev, and Yasir on September 4, 2026 during Operation Asdhar. The current encounter to neutralise Musa was part of an ongoing long-sustained operation.

Over the past few years, all security agencies including the Jammu and Kashmir Police, the Indian Army and the Central Armed Police Forces have been conducting counter-terrorism operations in close coordination, yielding positive results.