Top Hizb militant killed

A top Hizbul Mujahideen militant was killed in a gunbattle with security forces in Kashmir's Anantnag district today.

A self-styled district commander of Hizbul Mujahideen outfit, Javed Ahmad alias Salfi, was killed in the gunfight in Shamspora village at Qazigund, police said.

Acting on a tip-off that some militants were hiding in the village, security forces cordoned off the entire area and launched a search operation.

Militants fired at security forces who retaliated and in the ensuing gunbattle, the militant was killed.

The house, where the militant had taken shelter, was destroyed in the operation.