Srinagar, July 3 (IANS) Two separatist guerrillas, including a top commander of the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) militant outfit, were killed by security forces in south Kashmir Thursday, the police said. Troops of counter insurgency Rashtriya Rifles, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and the Special Operations Group of the police zeroed in on a militant hideout in Naina village, in Pulwama district, 45 km from here, a police officer said.

The police officer said the security forces had a specific input about the presence of Abu Atif, the south Kashmir commander of the LeT, and his accomplice hiding in the house.

When challenged to surrender, the two hiding guerrillas opened fire on the surrounding troops, the officer said.

“In the ensuing gun battle both Atif and his accomplice were killed,” the officer told IANS.

The hideout was destroyed in the heavy exchange of fire.

According to the police, Atif was on the most wanted list of the security forces as he was allegedly involved in a number of attacks on the security forces including the 2006 murder of police inspector Manzoor Ahmad, the station house officer of Pampore town in south Kashmir.