A top Lashker commander among 2 militants killed in Kashmir

Srinagar, Jan 1 (UNI) A top commander of Pakistan-based Lashker-e- Toiba was among two militants killed in the night-long fierce gun-battle in north Kashmir's Baramulla district.

Police said that the fierce gun-battle erupted between security forces and militants at Muslim Peer Mohalla in Sopore area of Baramulla district yesterday afternoon.

Personnel of the Special Operation Group (SOG) of the Jammu and Kashmir police and 22 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) on a tip-off, launched a search and cordon operation in the area, police said, adding as troops were searching the houses, militants opened fire on them, which was retaliated.

The operation was suspended last evening due to darkness which was resumed this morning, killing two militants.

The slain militants were identified as Showkat Ahmad Najar alias Muna Janawari, a top ranking commander of LeT, and his aide Ghulam Nabi alias Haji alias Lamboo.

Janawari was wanted in several militancy-related incidents, the police said.

UNI