2 Hizb terrorist commanders killed in JK

Security forces killed two terrorist 'commanders' of the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen in a fierce gunbattle in Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir, the police said on Monday.

Acting on a tip-off, a joint operation party of the police and the army launched a cordon and search operation in Chamal-Chilli area, about 190 km from Jammu, in Doda district on Sunday night, they said.

An encounter took place when militants fired on the party during search operation, Senior Superintendent of Police, Doda, Prabhat Singh said, and added that two militants had been killed so far.

Brigadier General Staff, 16 Corps, Brigadier Gurdeep Singh said the operations were still on and that the two slain terrorists had been identified as Yasir Ahmed alias Mubasher and Mustaq Ahmed alias Tallah.

Both were commanders of the Hizbul outfit, Brigadier Gurdeep said, adding that troops had recovered two AK rifles and other explosives from them.

Security forces believe that about half a dozen more militants, including a top Lashkar-e-Tayiba commander Shah Din Khanday, are still hiding in natural caves in the area.