A top Lashkar-e-Taiba militant, who was involved in the killing of several civilians in Pattan and Sopore area of north Kashmir, was today killed in an encounter with police in old city area.
On a tip off about the presence of self-styled LeT commander Hilal Molvi in the area, police laid a cordon around Narparistan in Fatehkadal area of the city in the wee hours.
As the police personnel were zeroing in on the target house, the militant fired on them. The cops returned the fire, triggering a brief gun battle, which ended with the killing of the militant, the police said.
Three policemen including an officer sustained injuries in the operation.
Molvi, a resident of Pattan area in Baramulla district, had taken refuge in the city as security forces had stepped up heat on militants in the district over the past two months.