LeT 'commander', one other militant killed in Kashmir

Two militants including a self-styled commander of Pakistan-based Lashker-e-Toiba (LET) outfit were killed in separate encounters with security forces in Kashmir Valley on Monday.

LeT commander Abdul Rehman alias "Rehman Bhai" was killed in a gunfight with security forces at village Shubdini in southern Pulwama district, 35 kms from Srinagar, officials said.

They said security forces had moved to the village after receiving a tip off about presence of militants in a house.

The search party came under fire and in retaliatory action, a militant was killed, they said adding the deceased was later identified as LeT commander Abdul Rehman, who was active for the last several years.

In another encounter, the officials said an unidentified militant was killed in Dardpora area of Kupwara district in north Kashmir.

The encounter took place when a security search party confronted the militant in the forest area, 110 kms from Srinagar, and asked him to surrender.

However, the militant opened fire triggering a gunfight, leading to his death, the officials said, adding his identity and group affiliation are yet to be ascertained.