Top Hizbul Mujahideen commander Riyaz Naikoo among four militants killed in 2 encounters in Jammu and Kashmir

Meanwhile, mobile internet services of all cellular companies, including BSNL, were on Wednesday suspended for security reasons in the Kashmir valley.

Curfew has been imposed in many areas, including the downtown Srinagar.

Official sources said that a CASO was launched at Beighpora in Awantipur, following credible inputs about the presence of militants on Tuesday night.

"Contact was established with militants on Wednesday morning. One of slain militants has been identified as Riyaz Naikoo, operational commander of HM," they added.

Naikoo, who became the de facto chief of HM after the death of Burhan Wani, the poster boy of militancy in the Valley in July 2016, was carrying a reward of Rs 12 lakh.

The top commander, who has been releasing audio clips on social media to recruit the youth into militant ranks, was on the run from the past eight years.

An Army official said that following specific information about the presence of militants, a joint CASO was launched by the Special Operations Group (SOG) of J&K police, Army and CRPF at Sharsali village in Awantipora of Pulwama last night.

He said when security forces were sealing a particular area, militants hiding there fired at them with automatic weapons. 'Two militants were killed in the exchange of fire,' he said, adding that the operation was still going on.

Official sources said curfew has been imposed in many areas in the valley, including downtown Srinagar.

Locals told UNI that security forces were making an announcement through loudspeakers, directing people to remain indoors, in view of the curfew imposed in the downtown.

However, a police official said that only restrictions on movement and assembly of people continued in accordance with the lockdown order, to curtail the spread of COVID-19.