Jammu: A top Lashker-e-Toiba (LeT) commander and two other militants were among five people killed and an army Colonel critically wounded in separate incidents in Jammu and Kashmir since last evening (June 30, 2004).

The LeT sector commander was killed and the Colonel was wounded in a fierce gun battle between ultras, numbering four to five, and troops at Sabzian in Poonch district, officials said.

The gunfight, which was still on, ensued during search-and-cordon operation mounted by security forces in the area this afternoon (July, 1, 2004), they said.

The commander, code named Abu Hamza, was killed and another militant was injured in the exchange of fire, the officials said.

Colonel K N Suyal, who was injured in the gun battle, had been flown to Northern Command Headquarters in Udhampur for treatment.

Another jawan was also injured in the gun battle, the officials said.

The same group of militants had attacked Military Engineering Service officials engaged in border fencing and BSF personnel on Wednesday in Poonch.