Two terrorists were killed in an encounter with security forces in Jammu and Kashmir’s Sopore on Tuesday, one of whom has been identified as a top Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) commander, a police officer said on Wednesday. The militant, identified as Abu Maaz, was a Pakistani national and was active in North Kashmir for the past three years.

Commenting on the killing, a police spokesman said, “On the basis of materials recovered, one of the slain terrorists has been identified as Abu Maaz of Pakistani origin who was operating as the top commander of LeT in north Kashmir.”

The slain militant had a criminal record since 2015 and was involved in a series of terror activities in the area, particularly in Sopore and Handwara, he added.

"He was involved in several attacks on the security forces and killings of civilians in the area. Several cases were registered against him in police stations across the valley for terror activities," said the spokesman.

The spokesman confirmed the involvement of Maaz in at least a dozen attacks carried out on security forces and civilians since 2015, killing an Army officer and three civilians.

The other terrorist killed in the encounter was identified as Abdul Majeed Mir alias Sameer.