Five terror operatives were gunned down by the security forces in an encounter that broke out on Sunday morning in Jammu and Kashmir's Shopian district. Among the five killed is a top Hizb-ul-Mujahideen commander Farooq Ahmed Bhat alias Nali, sources said.

Nali, an A++ category militant, had managed to escape from an encounter in the Yaripora area of Kulgam district two weeks ago. Nali was a resident of Yaripora.

According to sources, Nali was the Hizb commander of Kulgam and Pulwama districts after the arrest of Naveed Babu along with disgraced J&K DSP Davinder Singh.

J&K DG Dilbagh Singh confirmed that five 5 terrorists were killed in the day-long encounter on Sunday.

Three AK-47 rifles and two pistols were also recovered.

As a policy of security, the forces will not be declaring the identities of the slain terrorist.