Top Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) commander Azad Lalhari was killed on Wednesday in an encounter with the security forces in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district, police said.

"In the initial firing, two soldiers were injured. One of the injured succumbed to his injuries at the Army's Base Hospital in Srinagar," police said

Police said Lalhari was killed in the joint operation by police, Army and the CRPF in Kamrazipora village.

Later, the body recovered from the encounter site was identified as that of Lalhari, police added.

Lalhari had succeeded Riyaz Naikoo as the chief commander of HM and was the most- wanted local militant commander in Kashmir, police sources said.

DGP Dilbag Singh said that six FIRs were lodged against Lalhari for killings by militants.

"He was involved in the killing of Head Constable Anoop Singh in Pulwama town on May 22 when he fired at a naka party," the DGP said.

The police chief said Lalhari had started as an overground worker of the Hizbul, for which he was detained under the Public Safety Act. After serving his PSA detention, he had joined the Hizbul ranks.(IANS)