In a pre-dawn operation, security forces shot dead a self-styled deputy chief commander of the Harkat-ul-Mujahideen in an encounter at Alasteng on the outskirts of Srinagar [Images].

Acting on a tip off about the possible movement of ultras, a joint party of special operations group of local police and Rashtriya Rifles laid an ambush at Alasteng around midnight, Senior Superintendent of Police Muneer Khan told PTI.

He said the ambush party observed movement of some persons during the wee hours and asked them to surrender.

However, the ambush party came under fire, which was retaliated and in the ensuing gunbattle one of the militants was killed while his associate managed to escape, he said.

Khan said an AK assault rifle, four under barrel grenade launcher grenades, two hand grenades and some ammunition were recovered from the deceased who was identified as deputy chief commander of HUM Ghulam [Images] Qadir Mughal alias Saifullah Chachu, a resident of Bagh area of Pakistan.

Describing his killing as a major blow to HUM, he said the militant was active in the Valley for the past several years and was wanted in connection with large number of militancy-related incidents, including killings and improvised explosive device blasts.

His elimination comes close on the heels of the killing of self-styled deputy operational chief of the outfit Mohammad Shahbaz alias Abu Shahzad of Pakistan in an encounter at Soura locality of Srinagar where he was living under the disguise of a tailor for the past several months on December 21.

Saifullah Chachu was the third senior commander of any militant outfit killed by security forces in Srinagar within a fortnight.

On December 25, self-styled district commander of Al-Badr outfit was shot dead by security forces in an encounter at Bemina locality of the city.