SRINAGAR, Oct 5: Security forces have shot dead a militant leader and his aide, police said on Friday, claiming a “major success” in the fight against militancy in occupied Kashmir.

An army officer also died in the fierce gun-battle on Thursday night, said S. M. Sahai, police chief for the Muslim-dominated Kashmir valley.

“The elimination of the two militants is a major success for police and security forces,” he said in a statement.

Sahai named the slain top militant as Musa alias Wafa, who was serving as “divisional commander” of the hardline Lashkar-e-Taiba (Army of the Pious).—AFP