A top commander of the Jaish-e-Mohammed outfit was among five militants killed in two fierce Kashmir encounters on Saturday.
Police said troops of 18 Rashtriya Rifles and police surrounded the forest area of Varnau at Wantwali Nar in Lolab valley of frontier Kupwara district on a specific input about movement of militants.
"After being asked to surrender, the militants fired indiscriminately at the cordoning troops, triggering a fierce gunbattle that ended late this afternoon," a police spokesman said in Srinagar.
"Four militants have been killed in the encounter, of whom two have been identified as Amjad Bhai, district commander, JeM; and Abu Saifullah, of Lashkar-e-Tayiba," the spokesman added.
In another encounter on the Line of Control in the Keran sector of the same district, one intruding militant was gunned down while the incursion bid was foiled by the troops of 12 Mahar regiment.
One pistol, one magazine and two rounds of ammunition have been recovered from the slain militant.
