Saturday, September 17 2005 13:04 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Jammu: Pakistan-backed Hizbul Mujahideen suffered a severe jolt today (Sept 17, 2005) when its 'financial chief' and senior commander Masood Ahmad Nathnu was killed in an encounter with security forces in Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir, official sources said.

Acting on a tip off, security forces raided Dama village, seven kms northeast of Doda, in the wee hours, the sources said.

Masood, who had gone to the village allegedly to meet his girl friend, opened fire at the security forces at around 0600 hrs and was killed in the ensuing gun battle, they said.

A pistol was recovered from the possession of Masood who was active in Doda district for the last ten years and was a senior commander and chief of finances of Hizb-ul-Mujahideen outfit, the sources added.