LeT commander among three killed in Kashmir gunfight

Srinagar: A Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) commander hailing from Pakistan was among three guerrillas killed in a gun battle with security forces on Saturday in Jammu and Kashmir`s Kupwara district, police said.

"Top LeT commander Abu Usama alias Zarar belonging to Pakistan occupied Kashmir was among the three militants killed by the security forces in Kupwara district today," a police official said in Srinagar.

Acting on information that three LeT militants were hiding in a house in Lohar Mohalla of Dardpora (Lolab) village, personnel of the army`s 28 Rashtriya Rifles and special operations group of the state police surrounded the house on Friday evening.

When the security forces zeroed in on the house, the militants fired at them, triggering a gun battle. Three LeT militants, including Abu Usama, were killed in the operation.

"The Pakistani militant commander was in the most wanted list of the security forces," the police official said.

The house in which the guerrillas were hiding was destroyed in the gunfight.

A search was launched in the area later by the security forces.