Militant killed in gunbattle with security forces

An unidentified militant was killed in an overnight gunbattle with security forces in Pulwama district of south Kashmir, police said today.
"The gunbattle at Chursoo (in Pulwama), which began last night, ended this morning. Body of one militant has been recovered," a police spokesman said.
The encounter began last evening when security forces launched a search operation following information about presence of militants there.
The spokesman said a search is being carried out around the debris of the house, where the militants were hiding, as there were reports of two ultras still present there.
The identity and group affiliation of the slain militant was being ascertained, he added.

However, sources said the slain militant was self-styled battalion commander of Hizbul Mujahideen Reyaz Ahmad Naikoo.