Top LeT commander among 3 ultras killed in twin encounters

In J&K's Srinagar, Anantnag dists

In a huge achievement for the security forces, a top Pakistani commander of the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) outfit and two other terrorists were killed in two separate encounters in Jammu and Kashmir's Srinagar and Anantnag districts on Saturday, officials said.

The LeT commander, identified as Usman, was active in the valley for several years and was also involved in the killing of Inspector Masroor Wani, a senior police officer said.

Wani was shot dead from close range while he was playing cricket in the Eidgah ground here in October last year. Usman was active in the valley for a very long time and was involved in several attacks, the officer said, adding that his killing is a "major blow" to the LeT in Jammu and Kashmir.

"Usman was the seniormost Pakistani LeT commander here," he said.

Four security forces personnel were also injured in the Srinagar encounter.

Security forces launched a cordon-and-search operation in the densely-populated locality of Khanyar in the interior city here following inputs about the presence of terrorists in the area.

The search operation turned into an encounter as the terrorists opened fire at the search party, which retaliated, a police official said.