Srinagar, Feb 15: A Lashker-e-Toiba (LeT) commander involved in recent blasts in Uttar Pradesh (UP) and several other incidents and his associate were killed by the security forces in south Kashmir today.

Describing the killing of LeT District Commander (DC) Abdul Rehman, a resident of Pakistan, a major success for security forces and major blow to Lashke, Director General of Police Kuldeep Khoda said the slain militant was involved in UP blasts. He said that the investigation also reveal that Abdul Rehman was closely associated with LeT cadres not only in the valley but outside the state also.

Rehman's involvement has been found in recent UP blasts, he said, adding that he and Divisional commander for south Kashmir Abu Atif, also a resident of Pakistan, were instrumental not only in supplying in arms and ammunition to the militants in UP but also helped in the foilding up their organisations.

Giving details about the encounter, he said a search operation was launched at village Nikloora-Aglar this morning after receiving a specific information regarding the presence of LeT militants.

Besides state police, CRPF and Rashtriya Rifles (RR) also joined the operation.

After sealing the entire area, security forces were about to storm a particular house of one Haji Mohammad Ismail Mantoo when militants opened fire. The fire was returned and in the fierce clash two militants were killed.

Besides Abdul Rehman, the other slain militant was identified as local-trained Moin Ahmad Mir alias Noora.

The police chief said Abdul Rehman was involved in a number of militancy related activities. On February 20 last year, he attacked a Road Opening Party in which two CRPF personnel were killed at Sangam On April 16, 07 he attacked IRCON officials in which one PSO Bishan Dass was killed.

UNI