Indian forces on Monday claimed to have shot dead a top leader of the Kashmir militant group Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) in a suspected clash in the disputed territory.

The suspect identified as Khalid was hiding inside a house reportedly after throwing a grenade at a police checkpoint in the northern village of Ladoora, the Indian forces said.

Khalid has been accused of organising a string of suicide attacks across India-held Kashmir.

“He was one of the most wanted militants and the chief operational commander of JeM,” Kashmir inspector-general of police, Muneer Ahmed Khan, told AFP.

“He threw a grenade at the checkpoint which failed to explode. He then fired a pistol and took refuge in a nearby house where he was killed.”

Police claimed Khalid had planned suicide attacks in Muslim-majority Kashmir, including one on a paramilitary camp near Srinagar airport on October 3 in which one soldier and three attackers were killed.

In August, JeM said it staged a raid on a police base in the southern town of Pulwama in which eight security force members died. A two-day gunbattle also left three of the attackers dead.

Militant groups including JeM have for decades fought Indian troops in the restive territory, demanding independence or a merger of the Himalayan region with Pakistan.

The fighting has left tens of thousands dead, mostly civilians.

The estimated 500,000 Indian troops in Kashmir this year launched “Operation Allout” to hunt rebels. Police say at least 160 militants and 59 soldiers or police have been killed so far this year.

On Monday a soldier died in crossfire when suspected militants attacked a patrol, said army spokesman Colonel Rajesh Kalia.