Indian police say they killed a top militant in Kashmir

SRINAGAR, India — A top commander of a Pakistan-based militant group was killed Sunday during an operation in the southern part of the Indian-administered part of Kashmir, the region’s police chief said.

Jammu and Kashmir police chief Dilbagh Singh said that Munna Bihari, a commander of the Jaish-e-Mohammad militant group, was killed with a local associate after a nightlong operation in Shopian town.

Singh said the commander was known for bomb-making and a series of civilian killings and attacks on the military in the area.

Jaish-e-Mohammad was blamed for a February car bombing on a paramilitary convoy that killed 40 Indian soldiers in the deadliest attack on Indian troops in recent history. The attack brought archrival nuclear nations India and Pakistan close to another war.