Troops kill militant commander in Indian-controlled Kashmir gunfight

A militant commander was killed Friday in a fierce gunfight with government forces in restive Indian-controlled Kashmir, police said.

The gunfight broke out at village Muchwa of Budgam in outskirts of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir.

"A top commander of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) militant outfit was killed in an overnight gunfight with joint party of police and army at village Muchwa," a senior police official said.

"The militant Muzaffar Ahmad Naikoo alias Muza Molvi was killed after he fired upon a joint team rushing towards the area he was present."

According to police officials, an operation in the village was launched on Thursday night on specific intelligence information about presence of the militant commander.

Indian troops or police have not suffered any damage in the standoff that lasted for several hours, police said.

Naikoo was a local cadre of the LeT, hailing from neighbouring Sopore town.

Following his killing, police handed over his body to relatives for burial. Reports said hundreds of people participated in his funeral procession.

The mourners shouted anti-India and pro-freedom slogans during the funeral.

Earlier this week, a militant was killed in a gunfight in village Tarzoo of Sopore in Baramulla district.

A guerrilla war is going on between militants and Indian troopers stationed in the region since 1989. Endit