Srinagar

The "district commander" of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) was killed in a gunfight with the security forces Saturday in Jammu and Kashmir's Shopian district, police said.

According to a police statement here, hidden militants fired upon a search party of the security forces in Zainpora village of Shopian in the afternoon, triggering a gunfight.

LeT commander Abass Reshi alias Abid Bhai, son of Bashir Ahmad Reshi of Ali-Shahpora, Zainapora (Shopian) was killed in the exchange of fire, it added.

Inspector General of Police (Kashmir) A.G. Mir termed the killing of Reshi as a major success for police and other security forces.

"Abass Reshi was involved in a number of militancy-related incidents including hurling of grenades on the army and firing on police station Zainapora.

"He was also involved in the killing of a released militant Shabir Ahmad Mir in September this year," Mir told IANS.

The official also said that a civilian, Ghulam Ahmad Parry, was also injured in the gunfight. "He was hospitalized and is out of danger", Mir said.

By:IANS