Jammu & Kashmir police launch manhunt for Lashkar commander with Rs 15 lakh bounty
J&K police have posted wanted notices for Lashkar-e-Taiba operative Mohammad Lateef Bhat and offered a Rs 15 lakh reward for information leading to his capture.
Jammu and Kashmir police have escalated efforts to apprehend Lashkar-e-Taiba self-styled commander Mohammad Lateef Bhat, placing his photograph on wanted posters at key checkpoints across the Kashmir Valley and Jammu division. A cash reward of Rs 15 lakh has been announced for reliable information, with assurances that informants will remain anonymous. Bhat is the principal suspect in a targeted killing of a police officer in Anantnag district last month and is also linked to the murder of two migrants in Kulgam district.
He managed to slip away during a five-day operation in Shopian that saw top Lashkar commander Zakir Ganai killed. In a separate incident, police seized an SUV after its driver allegedly attempted to run over officers on the Jammu-Srinagar highway, leading to the arrest of Altaf Mohammad from Udhampur. A joint task force comprising the Army, SOG, CRPF and local police continues to pursue the remaining suspects.
Why it matters
The hunt for Bhat highlights ongoing security challenges and the threat of militant attacks in Jammu and Kashmir.
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