Srinagar, Aug 21 - Police were Thursday looking for a top guerrilla commander who allegedly gave them a slip after a court ordered his release in a particular case and before he could be arrested on other charges pending against him.

Nisar Ahmad alias Gazi Misbahuddin, chief commander (operations) of the Hizbul Mujahideen militant group, was set free by a south Kashmir court Wednesday.

'He was released and handed over to his lawyer,' a police officer said, adding the sessions court in Anantnag quashed the charges against him under the Public Safety Act.

According to police sources, Misbahuddin was to be re-arrested for other charges pending against him but he disappeared.

It is the usual practice of security forces in Kashmir to re-arrest released guerrilla commanders for other charges pending against them if a court sets aside their detention in a particular case.

'There are many cases pending against such militant commanders and if required they are re-arrested as they are wanted in more than one case registered against them in different police stations of the state', a senior police officer said.