Security personnel gunned down a top Jaish-e-Mohammed militant, believed to be the mastermind behind the 2005 Ayodhya attack, in an encounter and arrested five of his associates in the heart of Jammu city in the early hours of Saturday.

Saifullah Kari, the divisional commander of the Jaish-e-Mohammed, was killed in the encounter at Janipur area of the city, Inspector-General of Police (Jammu Zone) S P Vaid said.

On specific information, a joint team of the Jammu and Kashmir [Images] police and the Delhi police raided a militants hideout in Janipur area of the city where the ultras were planning an attack during the independence day celebrations.

One sub inspector of the Delhi police was also injured in the gun battle.

Kari was responsible for planning and executing the attack in Ayodhya in 2005 in which six militants and a civilian were killed.