Udhampur attack mastermind's killing a setback for LeT

The killing of Abu Qasim, the alleged mastermind in the attack on the BSF convoy in Udhampur, could have dealt a blow on Lashkar-e-Toiba, as he was one of the terror outfit’s mainstays.

Qasim alias Abdur Rehman was a self-declared commander who had Rs 10 lakh reward on his head from both the Jammu & Kashmir Police and the National Investigation Agency that made him one of the most wanted terrorist in the state.

He was accused of masterminding the August 5 attack on the BSF convoy in Udhampur, where two personnel belonging to the force were killed. While one of the terrorists was killed, the other, Mohd Naveed, was captured alive.

Investigations revealed that Qasim arranged local transportation, accommodation and food for four Pakistani terrorists commissioned to attack the BSF convoy.

He was also entrusted with arranging resources, identifying targets, organising transport and execution of terrorist attacks on the BSF personnel.

Security officials said Qasim had been active in J&K for nearly six years and had been heading a LeT division for the past two years.

Officials claimed Qasim planned and executed nearly all the major attacks blamed on the Pakistani terror group, including the July 7, 2012, shooting at Pampore, the June 24, 2013, strike on an army convoy in Hyderpora and 2013 killing of cardiologist Sheikh Jalal at Pampore.

Jammu & Kashmir sub-inspector of police Altaf Ahmad was killed at Bandipora on October 7 while chasing Qasim.

According to an NIA dossier, Qasim was around 27-28 years old and belonged to Bahawalpur in Pakistan.

Security officials believe that his elimination would be a “huge hit” for the terrorist organisation as he was coordinating with other terrorist outfits in the Valley.