The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday put out a post saying the wanted terrorist and Jaish chief Masood Azhar’s brother, Abdul Rauf Azhar, was neutralised in the ongoing Operation Sindoor as India hit terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK).

“Most wanted Pakistani terrorist, Abdul Rauf Azhar killed,” the BJP said, highlighting that he was involved in the Kandahar plane hijack, Pathankot terror attack and attack on the Indian Parliament.

The post further claimed that in Operation Sindoor, along with Rauf, an additional 14 members of JeM chief Masood Azhar’s family were killed.

However, there is no official statement from the Indian Armed Forces of the Central government on the big success.

When India Today asked Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri about the reports of Rauf’s killing, he said information will be shared in due time.

“Lot of informations is on social media and we have seen it. Information will be shared in due time,” Foreign Secretary told India Today.

WHO WAS ABDUL RAUF AZHAR?

A globally designated terrorist, he is amongst the most wanted terrorists by India for his roles in terrorist activities in Jammu and Kashmir.

Rauf is the brother of JeM chief Masood Azhar and has been involved in planning and executing numerous terror strikes in India including the hijacking of Indian Airlines aircraft IC814 in 1999, the attack on the Parliament in 2001 and the targeting of the IAF base in Pathankot in 2016.

Rauf Azhar was sanctioned by the US in December 2010. The US Department of Treasury had in December 2010 designated “Abdul Rauf Azhar, a senior leader of Jaish-e Mohammed (JEM), for acting for or on behalf of JEM.”

The US said as a senior leader of JeM, Abdul Rauf Azhar “has urged Pakistanis to engage in militant activities. He served as JEM’s acting leader in 2007, as one of JEM’s most senior commanders in India, and as JEM’s intelligence coordinator. In 2008 Azhar was assigned to organize suicide attacks in India. He was also involved with JEM’s political wing and has served as a JEM official involved with training camps.”