Senior Kashmiri militant surrendered

The authorities in Indian-administered Kashmir say a top militant of the Hizbul Mujahideen group has surrendered to the Indian security forces.

The militant - Jehangir Ahmad Khan - who calls himself the group's district commander, surrendered to a senior officer of the Border Security Force or BSF in Baramulla - about fifty-five kilometres north of the state's summer capital, Srinagar.

Mr Khan is the first senior militant to surrender since the Indian government declared a unilateral ceasefire in November. The truce has since been extended three times. He said he had carried out a number of operations against the security forces in the past year.

The Hizbul Mujahideen says the man who's surrendered does not belong to the group.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service