Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) commander Sulaiman Shah, also known as ‘Musa’ or ‘Fauji Musa’, was killed in a recent encounter with security forces in Jammu and Kashmir’s Budgam district, officials said. The operation took place in the forested and remote areas around Dudhpathri and Yousmarg in central Kashmir.
The Indian Army’s Chinar Corps confirmed that a joint search operation had been launched in the general area of Korag, Yousmarg, following specific intelligence inputs. The operation involved the Army along with the Jammu and Kashmir Police and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). According to the Army, troops noticed suspicious movement during the operation and challenged the suspected terrorists, following which they opened fire. An exchange of gunfire then took place, during which one terrorist was neutralised.
While the Army did not initially identify the slain terrorist in its public statement, officials later identified him as Sulaiman Shah alias Musa. Reports identified him as a Pakistan-based LeT commander who had been on the security forces’ radar for his alleged involvement in several attacks across Jammu and Kashmir.
The encounter unfolded in a difficult forested terrain, with security forces continuing searches in the area as the operation progressed. Officials said Musa was eventually killed during the gunfight in the remote Dudhpathri area of Budgam. Further details about the operation and the recovery of weapons or other material were expected as authorities continued their assessment of the encounter.
Who Was Sulaiman Shah Alias Musa?
Sulaiman Shah, also known as Musa and reportedly referred to as ‘Fauji’, had been described by officials as a wanted LeT terrorist. According to security officials, he was allegedly involved in attacks on both sides of the Pir Panjal range over several years. The Indian Express previously reported that Musa was believed to be an accomplice of another LeT terrorist, Yasir, who was killed in an encounter in the Yousmarg area on September 5.
The September 5 encounter had been part of a wider operation in the forested areas around the Pir Panjal range. Officials had said at the time that Musa was believed to have escaped from the area following the encounter. The subsequent search for him continued as security forces maintained operations across the region.
According to earlier reporting, Yasir and Musa were allegedly linked to a series of attacks in the Poonch-Rajouri belt and surrounding areas. The Indian Express reported that security officials attributed several attacks between 2021 and 2024 to the two men, including incidents involving Army personnel and other security targets. These are allegations made by officials and form part of the security agencies’ account of the case.
Joint Operation In Yousmarg
The latest operation began after security forces received intelligence regarding the presence of terrorists in the Korag area of Yousmarg. The Army, J&K Police and CRPF subsequently launched a coordinated search operation.
The Chinar Corps said troops observed suspicious activity and challenged the suspected terrorists. The suspects responded with gunfire, triggering the encounter. The Army described the exchange as fierce and confirmed that one terrorist was neutralised.
The operation comes less than a month after another encounter in the Yousmarg-Budgam forest belt. In the September 5 operation, security forces killed Yasir while a search was conducted for other suspected terrorists in the area. At that time, officials said Musa was believed to have escaped.
Security Forces Continue Searches
The latest encounter highlights the continued security operations in the forested areas of central Kashmir. The terrain around Yousmarg and Dudhpathri includes dense forests and difficult mountain areas, making search and tracking operations challenging for security forces.
OP KORAG, Yousmarg
— Chinar Corps🍁 - Indian Army (@ChinarcorpsIA) September 29, 2026
Based on specific intelligence input, a Joint Search Operation was launched by #IndianArmy, @JmuKmrPolice and @crpf_srinagar in general area Korag, Yousmarg.
Vigilant troops observed suspicious activity and upon being challenged, terrorists opened fire,…
Officials described Musa’s killing as a significant development in operations against the LeT network in Jammu and Kashmir. However, the wider security situation remains subject to ongoing investigations and operations, and authorities are expected to provide additional information about the encounter and any recoveries.
The Army’s initial statement did not provide the identity of the slain terrorist, while officials subsequently named him as Sulaiman Shah alias Musa. As the operation and verification process continues, more details regarding his background, alleged activities and the circumstances of the encounter are expected to emerge.
The killing also follows a sustained security operation in the Pir Panjal region, where security agencies have been tracking suspected LeT operatives. The September 5 killing of Yasir and the latest encounter involving Musa are being examined in the context of those operations.
Further details about the Budgam encounter, including the complete outcome of the search operation and any additional recoveries, are awaited.
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