A senior police officer said troops of counter insurgency Rashtriya Rifles and police jointly surrounded a house in Seloo Sopore in Baramulla district on specific information about the presence of militants inside it.
“The holed up militants were challenged to surrender but they opened fire at security forces triggering an encounter. A top militant commander of the Hizbul Mujaheedin, identified as Mohammad Shafi Sheikh, was killed,” he said.
He said searches were still continuing in the area.
Last week two militants of the outfit were killed in an encounter at Pinjora in south Kashmir Shopian district.
Photograph: Umar Ganie/Rediff.com