A terrorist wanted in India was shot dead by unidentified gunmen inside a mosque in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir on Friday, officials said.
This was the fourth such killing of a top terrorist commander operating from across the border this year.
Riyaz Ahmad alias Abu Qasim, affiliated with the proscribed Lashkar-e-Taiba, was one of the main conspirators behind the Dhangri terror attack on January 1.
Seven people died and 13 were injured when terrorists struck Dhangri village of Rajouri district and fired indiscriminately. They also left behind an improvised explosive device that went off the following morning.
Originally hailing from the Jammu region, Ahmad exfiltrated across the border in 1999. He was considered as the brains behind the revival of terrorism in the twin border districts of Poonch and Rajouri, the officials said.
Quoting reports from Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (POK), they said Ahmad was shot dead by unidentified gunmen inside the Al-Qudus mosque in the Rawalakot area during pre-dawn prayers.