Monday, April 4 2005 09:26 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Srinagar: In a major breakthrough, security forces yesterday (Apr 3, 2005) shot dead two top militant 'commanders' during an encounter in Bandipore area of Baramulla district yesterday, official sources said.

Tehreek-e-Jehadi Islami chief Sher Khan Afghani and deputy chief commander of Kashmir Frontier Force, another militant outfit, Bashir Barla were killed during the gun-battle with security forces, which began late Saturday night (Apr 2, 2005) and lasted nearly 12 hours, at Krisail village in Bandipora area, the sources said.

Afghani is a Pakistani national while Barla was a local resident, they said.

The identity of the slain militants could be ascertained only six hours after the encounter, the sources said.