A day after three terrorists were killed in an encounter with security forces in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama, the security forces’ top brass informed that the JeM leadership in the valley, handled by the terror organisation from Pakistan, has been eliminated in less than 100 hours of the Pulwama terror attack.

“We were tracking the Jaish-E-Mohamad leadership. We are happy to inform that we eliminated the Jaish leadership in the Valley, which was controlled by Pakistan,” Kanwal Jeet Singh Dhillon, Corps Commander of Chinar Corps, Indian Army said while briefing the media.

While appealing to the mothers in Jammu and Kashmir “to make their sons who have taken up arms surrender and return to the mainstream”, the Army also warned that “anyone who has picked up the gun in Kashmir will be eliminated, unless they surrender”.

Referring to the encounter that took place on Monday, the top Army officer said that the commanders led the operation from the front ensuring zero civilian casualties.

In a major success, the security forces in an encounter on Monday killed three terrorists including the Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) top commander Kamran who was the mastermind of the 14 February terror attack at a CRPF convoy.

The nearly 10-hour-long encounter also left four Army personnel, including a Major, and a civilian killed.

The martyred soldiers are Major Vibhuti Shankar Dhoundiyal, Havaldar Sheo Ram, and Sepoys Ajay Kumar and Hari Singh.

Read | Pulwama encounter: CRPF convoy attack mastermind Ghazi killed; Major among 5 others dead

Speaking on the Pulwama terror attack, Dhillon said, “The type of car bomb attack that took place in Pulwama on 14th Feb happened after a long time in Kashmir. We will keep all options open to deal with these kinds of attacks”.

The officer further said that there was “no doubt that Pakistan Army and the ISI was involved in the terror attack” adding that the “JeM was a child of the Pakistan Army”.

On the trend of Kashmiri youth joining terror groups, IGP Kashmir SP Pani said there was a significant dip in recruitment.

“We have not seen any recruitment in the last three months. The families are playing a huge role in this. We would like to urge the families and the community in curtailing recruitment,” the police officer said.

Zulfiquar Hasan of the CRPF said the force’s helpline no: 14411 has been helping Kashmiris across the country in the wake of the terror attack.

“Lot of Kashmiri students have approached this helpline for help all over the country. All Kashmiri children studying outside have been taken care of by security forces,” he added.

In a united voice, the forces’ top brass said, “Our focus is clear on counter-terrorism operations. We are very clear that anyone who enters Kashmir Valley will not go back alive”.

The press briefing was held by the top officers of the Indian Army, CRPF and Jammu and Kashmir Police.

Read | 44 CRPF jawans killed, nearly 45 injured in suicide attack in J-K’s Pulwama; JeM claims responsibility

In a brazen attack, over 44 CRPF personnel were killed and many injured on February 14 in one of the deadliest terror strikes in Jammu and Kashmir when a Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) suicide bomber blew up an explosive-laden vehicle near their bus in Pulwama district.

The bus was part of a convoy of 78 vehicles carrying around 2500 CRPF personnel from Jammu to Srinagar.