A self-styled divisional commander of the Jaish-e-Mohammad was killed and nine security personnel were injured in an encounter in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir [Images], police said Tuesday.

The encounter broke out between militants and security forces at Shahabad-Kharpora when the ultras hiding there opened fire on the search party, Awantipora SP Bashir Ahmad Khan said.

Acting on a tip-off, a joint team of the Rashtriya Rifles and Central Reserve Police Force raided the area. During the search operation, militants opened fire at the team and in the ensuing firefight the JeM ultra Abu Sarjeel alias Khubaib was killed, Khan said, adding two policemen and seven army personnel were also injured in the exchange of fire. Sarjeel was active in the valley since 2000. Initial investigations have revealed that he was commanding the module which was involved in the killing of security personnel during 2005-06 in south Kashmir, the SP said.

The JeM 'commander' was a high tech militant and was also involved in many other militancy activities in Tral area of Pulwama district, he said. A laptop, two pistols in damaged condition, a shotgun, seven mobile phones, a web camera, a grenade (destroyed) and some English movie CDs were recovered from the encounter site.