Top Hizbul-Mujahideen commander Chota Hafiz, an accused in the 2011 Delhi high court blast, was on Thursday killed in an encounter with security forces in Kishtwar district of Jammu and Kashmir.
Hafiz, the prime accused in the blast which claimed 15 lives, was killed in a joint operation of Special Operation Group of the police and the army in Kaderna forest belt, 238 kms from Jammu, around 7.15 pm, Deputy Inspector General of Kishtwar-Doda-Ramban Range, Gareeb Dass told PTI.
After an hour-long cordoning of the area, a fierce battle took place between security forces and the terrorists in which Hafiz was killed, he said.
"The body has been recovered and police would continue its search operation in the area in the morning...It is a major success. He was lone surviving terrorist involved in the Delhi HC blast case," DIG said.
Chota Hafiz, along with two other top Hizbul-Mujahideen terrorists Amir Ali Kamal and Junaid Akram Malik, was named as accused in the Delhi high court blast case by the National Investigation Agency.
Fifteen people were killed and over 50 injured on September 7 2011 blast in the Delhi high court premises.