A Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) commander and an army soldier were killed on Thursday in a gunfight in Jammu and Kashmir’s Anantnag district, Defence sources said.

Acting on a tip about militant movement, the security forces laid an ambush in Gasigund village of Dooru area in Anantnag which resulted into a gunfight.

LeT commander identified as Abu Ukasha belonging to Verinag area was killed during the gunfight.

A soldier was killed during an encounter in the Gazigund area of Anantnag district of South Kashmir, confirmed Army spokesman, Colonel Rajesh Kalia.

The soldier martyred in the encounter with terrorists at South Kashmir’s Anantnag on Thursday has been identified as Sepoy Happy Singh.

The martyred soldier belonged to village Ram Nagar of Talwandi Sabo in the Bathinda district of Punjab, said Kalia.

The 25 years old Happy Singh is survived by his father Devraj Singh.

Authorities have suspended mobile Internet services in the Anantnag district as a precautionary measure.

In a separate incident, a civilian was killed during a cordon and search operation by security forces in Noorbagh area of Srinagar.

Security forces had launched a search operation in the area following information about presence of militants there, the official said.

Some gunshots were heard during the search operation and later the body of a civilian, identified as Saleem Malik, was recovered, he added.

It is yet to be ascertained whether Salim was hit by bullets fired by security personnel or the militants. According to media reports, locals have alleged that security forces’ firing led to the death.

Angry residents resorted to stone-pelting on the forces, the official said, adding the clashes were still going on.

In another operation, security forces have trapped some terrorists in a mosque. Management of the mosque was trying to persuade the holed up terrorists to surrender but they have reportedly not responded positively.

Reports said that a top Pakistani terrorist of Lashkar-e-Tayiba (LeT), Naveed Jatt, has managed to escape from the encounter site in South Kashmir. Jatt had escaped from police custody in February after killing two policemen while he was being taken to hospital from the Srinagar jail. Police suspects that he might have received a bullet injury while fleeing this morning from the encounter site.

(With agency inputs)