Top Lashkar commander Altaf Lalli eliminated in Bandipora encounter

New Delhi: Indian security forces on Friday eliminited top Lashkar-e-Taiba commander Altaf Lalli an encounter in Bandipora district of Jammu and Kashmir.

Security forces launched a cordon and search operation at Kulnar Bazipora in Bandipora district following information about the presence of the ultras in the area, they said.

They said the search operation turned into an encounter after the hiding ultras opened fire on the security forces' positions.

Two police personnel were injured in the firing by terrorists, the officials said.

Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi arrived in Kashmir on Friday to review the situation in the wake of the Pahalgam attack earlier this week that left 26 people, mostly tourists, dead, officials said.

The officials said Army Commander, Northern Command, Lt Gen MV Suchindra Kumar, accompanied the Army Chief.

The Chief of Armed Staff (COAS) would carry out a comprehensive review of the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir, while top Army commanders will brief him about the security situation and steps taken in the aftermath of Tuesday's attack, they said.

The Army chief's visit comes less than 24 hours after Pakistan resorted to small arms firing along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir.