A top Lashkar-e-Tayiba militant was killed in an overnight encounter in Handwara area of north Kashmir's Kupwara district.
The encounter took place in Laribal village of Zachaldara, 100 kms from Srinagar, on Tuesday night after security forces launched a cordon and search operation in the area, officials said.
According to intelligence inputs, two militants were hiding in a house in the village. When the gunfight between the millitants and security forces broke out, the house in which the militants were hiding caught fire, officials said.
Although the identity of the slain millitant remains unknown, as his body was charred in the fire, officials said he is believed to be Fahadullah, a top LeT militant from Pakistan.
An AK-47 rifle, two magazines and some communication equipment have been recovered from the site of encounter.