Srinagar: A self-styled divisional commander of Hizbul Mujahideen and a army Major were killed today  (Nov 28, 2006) in a gunbattle in Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir.

"Security forces shot dead Sohail Faisal, a Hizbul militant responsible for several car-bomb blasts in the valley, in a house at Bijbehara in the district, Deputy Inspector General of police, South Kashmir," H K Lohia said.

An army Major was killed after Faisal fired at the security forces when he was asked to surrender, he said.

"In a precision operation, we have managed to eliminate one of the most dreaded militants of Hizbul Mujahideen in south Kashmir," Lohia said.

He said the security agencies had been on the trail of Faisal for the past four months and last night they received credible information about his presence in a particular house.

"Faisal's killing is a major blow to Hizbul as he was the main architect of most of the attacks on security forces including the car-bomb explosions," Lohia said, adding slain militant was also suspected to be the brain behind some of the attacks on Amarnath pilgrims in 2004 and 2005.

A diary recovered from a slain militant last year had details of Faisal's involvement in procuring and manufacturing of improvised explosive devices (IEDs).

He was also incharge of financial matters of the militant outfit in south Kashmir.