A self-styled commander of Hizbul Mujahideen and his guard were killed in a gun battle with security forces in Rajouri district, officials said in Jammu on Friday.

Mohd Yasin, self-styled commander of outfit's Pir Panjal Regiment who was carrying a reward of Rs five lakh on his head, and his guard Shafaat were killed in a shootout between the terrorists and personnel of state police and Rashtriya Rifles in Morha Daraj on Thursday night, they said.

The forces had been monitoring Yasin's movement for the past fortnight and finally tracked him in Morha Daraj, they said.

Yasin along with his body-guard were finally trapped in a house, they said, adding that the duo opened fire at the forces. In the ensuing firing, both of them were killed, they said.

Yasin, who had joined the outfit after deserting police as special police officer (SPO), was involved in the killing of ten minority community members at Dhar Sakri and six at Gabbar Budhal.

Yasin's killing has dealt a blow to the outfit, Superintendent of Police (Rajouri) Farooq Khan told PTI, adding, "It came close on the heels of elimination of two foreign mercenaries in Thanna Mandi, including top terrorist commander Abu Mavia last week."

Two AK rifles, six grenades, and a sophisticated wireless set were recovered from the scene of encounter.