Srinagar: Indian security forces in Jammu and Kashmir take down the successor of Zakir Musa, Hamid Lelhari in an encounter in Awantipora on Tuesday. 

"Three terrorists killed in Awantipora encounter yesterday have been identified as Naveed Tak, Hamid Lone aka Hamid Lelhari and Junaid Bhat. Arms & ammunition recovered," Kashmir Zone Police told news agencies.

The terrorists were killed in an encounter with security forces on Tuesday. The encounter began in the outskirts of Awantipora. Following inputs of possible terror presence, a cordon and search operation was launched by the forces. 

With the killing of Lelhari, also the chief of Al Qaeda's Kashmir unit, Zakir Musa's Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind has reportedly lost the last militant leader of the outfit. 

Musa, a former Hizbul Mujahideen commander was killed by the security forces in Tral area of Jammu and Kashmir in May this year. Subsequently, Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind had declared Lelhari as its new commander.