Top Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist Junaid Mattoo was today killed in an encounter with security forces in Arwani village of Bijbihara in Anantnag District of south Kashmir, reports India Today.

Mattoo was trapped for more than eight hours with two other local Lashkar militants in a joint operation conducted by the Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police and the CRPF to nab terrorists.

Mattoo was involved in a daylight attack on a police van in which three policemen including an officer was killed last year.

Mattoo's involvement is also suspected in the killing of a policeman in Kulgam area of South Kashmir on Thursday afternoon.

Mattoo was believed to be active for the past two years and carried a bounty of Rs 10 lakh on his head.

Intelligence sources said that search operation is still ongoing but have been hampered by stone-pelters who are targeting the security forces from different sides.

Police said that Junaid Mattoo is the third top militant who has been killed after Burhan Wani since last year. Buran Wani's  close aid Sabzar Ahmad Bhat was the second militant who was killed in an encounter on May 27 last month.

Image: LeT commander Junaid Mattoo. India Today TV screen grab.