Militant commander killed in Indian-controlled Kashmir

A top commander of Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) militant outfit was killed Tuesday in a gunfight with Indian army and police in Indian- controlled Kashmir, officials said. The firefight broke out at village Garwar-Lolab of Kupwara district, around 130 km northwest of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir. "Last night information was received about presence of top commander of JeM. Five columns of Rashtriya Rifles accompanied by JK Police personnel launched a search operation and at the outbreak of daylight an intense gunfight broke out, resulting in elimination of a militant," said a defense spokesman based in Srinagar. The slain militant commander has been identified by police as Qari Yasir, operational commander of JeM. Yasir was among the most wanted militants in the restive region. A guerrilla war has been going on between separatists and Indian troops in Indian-controlled Kashmir since 1989.