Jammu, Feb 28 (UNI) The Jammu and Kashmir police today killed the key Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) operative near Billawar in Kathua district who had come to organise suicide attacks in the winter capital of the state, a senior official said.

Addressing a press conference, Inspector General of Police (Jammu) S P Vaid said LeT's 'operational commander' of Doda district, Abu Tallah was gunned down during a pre-dawn operation at Rajwalata forests in Billawar.

''Abu Tallah, a Pakistani, had come to village Safian in Billawar along with one of his associate to spread the LeT network in Jammu and Kathua districts,'' he said.

As per intelligence reports, Mr Vaid said, Abu Tallah was planning fidyaeen (suicide) attack on Raj Bhawan and MLAs' hostel in Jammu.

Following the tip-off, police party cordoned the village and apprehended two persons, Latif Bakerwal and Naseer Ahmed alias Raju, a local LeT militant and associate of Abu Tallah while the 'operational commander' managed escape to nearby forests.

''Our troops launched search operations during which the LeT commander fired upon them and got killed in the encounter,'' Mr Vaid said.

One constable was also injured in the operation.

One AK 56 rifle, two magazines, 28 rounds and a mobile phone were recovered from the site of encounter.

Abu Tallah had masterminded many terror-related crimes, including massacres of minority community in Kulhand (Doda) and Basantgarh (Udhampur) last year, Mr Vaid informed.

''He was also involved in an attack on the Army at Kalibari, Kathua, where two jawans were killed and seven wounded in 2005,'' the IGP added.

UNI