Srinagar, Aug 3 (IANS): A guerrilla believed to be top Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) commander Abu Hanzallah was Friday killed by security forces in a village in Jammu and Kashmir's Kupwara district, an official said.

"Our intelligence inputs have confirmed that the slain commander is Abu Hanzallah of LeT, but the physical confirmation is also being carried out," said Brig A. Arun, commander of 7 Sector Rashtriya Rifles.

Giving details of the incident, he said troops of the Rashtriya Rifles and Jammu and Kashmir Police, acting on intelligence inputs, launched an operation in Dudipora village in Handwara area Thursday.

"When the hiding terrorist commander was challenged to surrender, he opened fire at the troops, triggering an encounter. We have recovered a charred dead body, a weapon and two magazines from the encounter site," Arun told reporters in Handwara.

"We had been tracking this top commander of LeT in north Kashmir for the last many days," he said.

The killing of Abu Hanzallah is seen by security forces as a major success in their continuing operations against separatist guerrillas in Kashmir.