Srinagar, Dec 22 (IANS): Six Kashmiri militants of the Al Qaeda-affiliate Zakir Musa group, Ansar Ghazwatul Hind, were gunned down by security forces in an encounter on Saturday in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district.

Soliha, the deputy of Zakir Musa, also known as Rehaan Khan died in the encounter in the Tral area after the group of hiding militants fired at Rashtriya Rifles (RR) soldiers, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) troopers and men from special operations group (SOG) of the state police, who had surrounded the Arampora village following specific inputs about the terrorists' presence.

"As the cordon was tightened, the militants fired triggering the encounter," a police officer said.

Earlier, the police had identified two, one of whom they called a foreigner while the other Musa's deputy, who belongs to the Arampora village, where the gun battle took place.

"Weapons and war-like stores have been recovered. The operation is over," Defence Ministry spokesman Colonel Rajesh Kalia earlier said here.

Police said after completion of legal formalities the bodies of the slain militants would be handed over to their families.

Mobile Internet service in the district and rail services between the valley and the Bannihal town of Jammu region was suspended.