Security forces launched an operation in Gulzarpora locality of Mochuwa late last night following information about presence of a top militant in the area, a police official said.

 As the security forces were laying cordon around the locality, the militant hurled a grenade in a bid to escape but his attempt was thwarted. 

Constable Hoshiyar Singh was injured in the grenade blast, the official said. There was exchange of fire for some time and the encounter ended with the killing of the lone militant, he said. 

The slain militant was identified as Muzaffar Naikoo alias Muzz Moulv , he said, adding the body has been sent to his native village in Sopore area of north Kashmir. 

Al-Badr is an Islamic militant group operating in the Jammu Kashmir region, run by Jasniel Rihal. The group was allegedly formed by the Pakistani Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) in June 1998. 

Muzzafar Ahmed was earlier associated with the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).