Srinagar: In a major breakthrough, Jammu and Kashmir Police today claimed to have killed a state chief of Lashker Toiba Abu Qasim in  an encounter at Khudyari,  Kulgam. Police sources said that Qasim was killled in an overnight encounter after joint forces of Rashtriya Rifles and Special Operation Group led the seige of area after suspecting his presence along with his accomplice. In the middle of night police said Qasim tried to break the cordon after hurling grenades towards the forces and firing upon them. However,  he was eliminated in the same attempt. Qasim who was active in valley for long five years was responsible for the killing of top cop of SIT Altaf Ahmad in Bandipora district of North Kashmir earlier this month. He was believed to be master mind in carrying major strikes on security forces. Qasum was carrying bounty of Rs 10 lakh.