The Indian Army on Tuesday killed the commander of the AlQaeda-backed Ansar Ghazwat-ul Hind outfit in an encounter in Jammu andKashmir's Awantipora. Identified as Abdul Hameed Lelhari, he was Zakir Musa'ssuccessor as commander of the terror group in June this year. Along withLehari, two other terrorists were also killed by security forces.

Jammu and Kashmir DGP Dilbag Singh spoke to the media onWednesday and stated that the terror outfit, also known by the abbreviationAGH, had been "wiped out" from the conflict-ridden region. Hailingthe outcome of Tuesday's operation as a big win for the security forces, Singhalso said that Lehari had been involved in several deadly operations againstsecurity forces in Pulwama district's Kakapora area. "He was also involvedin campaigns of intimidation among the people," he said. Three killedterrorists identified as Naveed Tak, Hamid Lone alias Hamid Lelhari and JunaidBhat involved in several terror crimes. Arms and ammunition recovered. Caseregistered," Jammu and Kashmir Police said earlier on Wednesday.

Appealing for the Valley's youth to choose the path of peaceover militancy, Singh said that the rate of young people joining militancysince the Centre's decision to abrogate Article 370 in the state has reduced"significantly". Many parts of the to-be Union Territory have beenunder a communications clampdown as a "preventive measure" since 5August.

Singh said, "Happy to say that since 5 August, the rateof people joining militancy has reduced even though some were of the opinionthat the abrogation would send more people into militancy."

Three other terrorists, suspected to be of theJaish-e-Mohammad, were also neutralised earlier on Tuesday, reports said. Twoof them are suspected to be Pakistani terrorists involved in the killing of twoGujjar brothers on 29 August in the mountainous region of Tral Pulwama,