A self-styled militant commander was among five top Hizbul Mujaideen ultras gunned down on Monday in an encounter with the army in Kishtwar district of Jammu and Kashmir, dealing a major blow to the Pakistan-based outfit.

Mohammad Amin, a "section commander", who was active in the state since 1998, and four other Hizbul militants were killed in retaliatory action by troops after they came under fire during a search and cordon operation in Nawapachi forest belt early on Monday morning, an army officer said in Jammu.

The other militants have been identified as Dodu Bakerwal, Jehangir, Mohammad Rajab alias Imtiyaz and Mohammad Shafi.

Four AK rifles, arms and ammunition as well as explosives were recovered from the site of the encounter, he said.