Srinagar: Security forces shot dead the "chief operational commander" of Al Umar Mujahideen, Rafiq ahmad Lidri, wanted in several killings of police officers and political activists, in an encounter in Khanyar locality, a senior police official said today (Feb 6, 2004).

The forces surrounded a house in the downtown area last night following a tip-off that Lidri was hiding there, Senior Superintendent of Police Syed Javed Mujtaba Gilani said.

Gilani said the security forces barged into the house to arrest Lidri in the wee hours today but came under fire.

Security forces retaliated and killed the militant on the spot, he added.

The official said the slain commander, a close lieutenant of Al Umar chief Mushtaq Ahmad Zargar alias Latram, was involved in several killings of policemen and political activists.

Zargar, along with Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Maulana Masood Azhar, was released in December 1999 at Kandahar, Afghanistan, in exchange of passengers of hijacked Indian Airlines flight IC-814.

"This is one of the major successes for the security forces as we were after Lidri for the past three years. He was one of the few local militant commanders left in Srinagar and now Al Umar has no commanders here," he added.

One AK rifle, wireless set and several grenades were recovered from Lidri's possession.