Srinagar, November 23: Security forces on Friday gunned down six terrorists including a top Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) commander, who was allegedly involved in the assassination of senior journalist Shujat Bukhari earlier this year. The encounter took place in Sekipora village in Jammu and Kashmir's Anantnag district. The LeT commander was identified as Azad Malik alias Aka Dada.

"Azad Malik, a top LeT commander, and his associate Basit Mir were among the six militants killed," police sources told news agency IANS. Azad Malik has been held responsible for the murder of senior journalist and Editor-in-Chief of English daily "Rising Kashmir" Shujat Bukhari who was shot dead in Srinagar city along with two security guards on June 14. Jammu And Kashmir: Three Terrorists Killed In Kulgam Encounter At Laroo Area; One Security Personnel Injured.

Other slain terrorists were identified as Basit Mir of Khanabal, Unais/Anees of Takyibal, Bijbehara, Aqib of Waghama Bijbehara, Shahid from Awantipora and Firdaus Ahmad of Machpona, Pulwama. The gunfight was triggered after Indian Army's 3 Rashtriya Rifles (RR), 116 battalion of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Jammu and Kashmir Police jointly cordoned off the village following a tip-off about holed-up militants in the area.

As the operation was underway, the search party was fired upon by terrorists. The fire was retaliated leading to a gunfight. Incriminating materials, including a huge quantity of arms and ammunition, were recovered from the site of encounter. Five AK and one INSAS rifle have been recovered. The authorities suspended mobile internet services in Anantnag district as a precautionary measure following the encounter.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 23, 2018 04:30 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).