Three militants were killed in an encounter with security forces in Kulgam district of Jammu and Kashmir Sunday, police said.
The identity of the slain militants is being ascertained, a police official said.
One soldier was also injured in the encounter.
A joint operation was launched by the troops of Rashtriya Rifles (RR), the state police’s Special Operations Group (SOG) and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) after receiving information about the presence of militants in Laroo village.
As the forces were conducting the searches, the ultras fired upon them, triggering the encounter.
“As the cordon around the hiding militants was tightened, they fired at the security forces triggering the gunfight. Two of the slain militants were Pakistanis while the third was a local,” police sources said.
Clashes between civilian protesters and the security forces erupted near the gunfight site.
Authorities have suspended both mobile telephone and internet services in Kulgam district as precautionary measure.
(With agency inputs)