On the fateful day, which happened to be Friday, a group of unidentified assailants carried out a brazen act of violence, resulting in the tragic demise of a prominent terrorist commander associated with the notorious Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) organization. The sinister incident unfolded within the sacred confines of the Al-Qudus mosque, a place of worship nestled in the region of Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir's Rawalkot. The individual in question, known by the alias Riyaz Ahmad, also recognized as Abu Qasim, met his untimely end in a shocking manner.
The sequence of events leading up to this grim occurrence reveals that Riyaz Ahmad had embarked on a journey from Kotli with the noble intention of engaging in prayers at the mosque. However, his pious endeavor took a sinister turn when, without any warning or provocation, he was ruthlessly targeted. A malevolent hand fired a shot directly into his cranium from an alarmingly close proximity, extinguishing his life in an instant.
The significance of Riyaz Ahmad's presence in the annals of terrorism is underscored by his pivotal role as one of the chief architects behind the heinous Dhangri terror attack, a chilling incident that unfolded on the first day of January. During this savage attack on the peaceful Dhangri village, located in the Rajouri district, seven innocent souls met their tragic end, while an additional thirteen individuals suffered grievous injuries. The malevolent assailants, in their ruthless campaign, also left behind a perilous improvised explosive device, which subsequently detonated, adding to the already harrowing toll.
This incident, marking the fourth such instance of the targeted elimination of a high-ranking terrorist commander operating from beyond the border, stands as a somber testament to the relentless efforts of security forces in the region to combat the menace of terrorism.
Originating from the Jammu region, Riyaz Ahmad had, in a fateful decision made in 1999, managed to evade border authorities and exfiltrate across the border. Over the years, he had garnered a reputation as the mastermind behind the resurgence of terrorism in the twin border districts of Poonch and Rajouri, according to reports provided by officials associated with the news agency PTI. His operational base primarily resided within the labyrinthine confines of the Lashkar-e-Taiba's headquarters in Muridke. However, it had come to light that, in recent times, he had opted for a change in his operational locale, relocating to the city of Rawalakot.
Riyaz Ahmad's stature within the terrorist organization was further accentuated by his close association with Sajjad Jaat, the chief commander of the Lashkar-e-Taiba. Furthermore, he assumed a critical role in managing the outfit's financial affairs, a responsibility of paramount importance and influence within the organization, as per the accounts provided by knowledgeable officials.
