In a blow to Pakistan-based Lashker-e-Taiba and Hizbul Mujahideen, six militants, including a terrorist involved in planning journalist Shujaat Bukhari's murder and three commanders, were killed in an early morning encounter at Bijbehara in South Kashmir, police said.

The security forces had launched an operation in the foothills of Wagahama Suktipora on Thursday night following information about the presence of militants in a hideout there, they said.