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Srinagar: Five persons including three militants a cop and a civilian were killed  while scores of civilians were  injured  after  an encounter broke out early Friday morning between government forces and militants at Srigufwara area of south Kashmir’s Anantnag district.

A civilian identified as Mohammad Yousuf who was earlier injured in cross firing at gun battle sight at Srigufwara of south Kashmir’s Anantnag has succumbed to his injuries.

Reports said that the owner of the house Mohammad Yousuf in which militants were hiding and his wife were injured as the firefight broke out in Nowshera Khiram in Srigufwara today morning.

Earlier, Yousuf and his wife Hafeeza were shifted to sub-district hospital Bijbehara for treatment. However, Rather was declared dead on arrival while Hafeeza was shifted to SKIMS Soura for specialized treatment.

Two army men and a cop of Special Operations Group of Jammu and Kashmir Police were injured in the firefight. The injured were rushed to a hospital where the cop succumbed.

Meanwhile, massive clashes have erupted near the site of the gunfight and in the adjoining areas.

Reports said that youth pelted stones on the forces to disrupt their operation against the besieged militants, believed to be four in number. The forces responded by firing live ammunition, tear gas and pellets.

Reports said  that twenty civilians were injured so far.