Police on Tuesday claimed to have killed top Harkat-ul- Mujahideen (HuM) commander in an encounter in north Kashmir's Hygam village.
Identified as Nauman, the police claimed the slain militant was HuM's Valley's chief commander.
A police posse and army's 52 RR
zeroed in on a house in Sopore's Hygam area, 55 north of Srinagar. Police sources said the troops asked the holed up militants to surrender. "Instead, the militants fired at the troops, triggering an encounter that is still going on," said the sources.
SP Sopore, Altaf Khan confirmed the killing of two militants in the operation. "One among the slain militants is the top most militant commander Nauman," said Khan.
The police said one more militant is still hiding in the area and is firing at the soldiers. They added Nauman was acting as the Divisional Commander of HuM.
Nauman was active in Kashmir for the last six years and operated in Lolab.
Nauman, police sources said, was believed to have sent two fidayeens (suicide attackers) to Lal Chowk on January 7. The militants escaped the security cordon many a times in the past.