The Army said Tuesday they had shot dead a the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba commander in Kashmir who in the 'most wanted' list. An Army spokesman said the commander, identified as Abu Hanzla from Pakistan, and his guard were killed during a fierce encounter with soldiers in the village of Serpora in the northern district of Baramulla.

"Hanzla was one of the most active commanders of Lashkar," the spokesman said, "and his elimination is a setback to the group." He said Hanzla was at the top of a list of "most wanted militants" in Kashmir.

The spokesman said Army personnel had sealed off the village in the early hours of Tuesday following a tip off.

"Once they closed in, the militants opened fire, which was returned killing Hanzla and his guard," he said.
The area is still under cordon and house-to-house searches are going on in the area to find more militants. Bureau Report