Srinagar, Feb 6 (IANS): A top commander of the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) outfit was killed in a gunfight with security forces on Wednesday in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama District.
Police sources said Irfan Ahmad Sheikh, the district commander of LeT, was killed in Chakoora village.
"The slain militant belonged to Chakoora and was active for the last some years," an official source said.
Police said following specific information about the presence of militants in Chakoora in Litter area, the security forces started a cordon and search operation.
"As the cordon around the hidden militants was tightened, they fired at the security forces, triggering an encounter."
Almost simultaneously, clashes between civilian protesters and the security personnel broke out some distance away from the site of the gunfight.
Authorities suspended mobile Internet services in Pulwama as a precaution.