SRINAGAR, July 3: Indian security forces on Thursday shot dead the alleged chief commander of a Kashmiri militant group wanted for attacks in occupied Kashmir and others parts of the country, police said.

Abu Atif and his bodyguard were killed during a fierce gunbattle in the southern district of Pulwama, a police statement said.

“Atif was the chief commander of Lashkar-i-Toiba militant group,” it said, adding the gunbattle was sparked after troops, backed by police, ringed his hideout after a tip-off. Atif was involved in many attacks in Kashmir and other parts of India, according to police. —AFP