Security forces on Monday killed a top militant commander active in central Kashmir for the past eight years.

"The Paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force and the police, in a joint operation, killed Bilal Afghani, divisional commander of the Al-Badr militant outfit," a police spokesman said.

He said that the CRPF and a Special Operations Group of the police surrounded a house in Arath village, 30 kilometres from Srinagar, late on Sunday night following information that the wanted militant commander had been hiding there.

"After a sustained encounter that lasted for over 24 hours, security forces killed Bilal Afghani on Monday. He was on our most wanted list of militant commanders for over eight years. Two CRPF troopers have sustained injuries in the encounter," the spokesman said.

"The body of the slain militant commander, lying under the debris of the house which was destroyed in the gun battle, would be recovered tomorrow," he added.