Srinagar: Four militants, including the chief of IS in Jammu and Kashmir, were killed in a gunfight with government forces in Srigufwara area of south Kashmir’s Anantnag district on Friday, reports  said.

The slain, according to an official, were identified as ISJK chief Dawood Salafi alias Burhan from HMT Srinagar, Majid Manzoor Dar from Talangam Awantipora, Ashraf Itoo from Hatigam Srigufwara and Adil Hassan Mir from Sheipora Srigufwar

Reports said that government forces launched a cordon and search operation in Khiram in Srigufwara area of the south Kashmir district this morning after receiving specific intelligence inputs about the presence of militants in the area.

They said  the search operation turned into a gunfight after the militants fired at the forces, who retaliated.

Earleir, Mohammad Yousuf a civilian died in the cross fire between forces and militants. He was the owner of the house where militants had taken refuge. His wife suffered bullet injuries too and was referred to SKIMS soura

Clashes broke out near the encounter site when a group of youth started pelting stones on the forces, reports said.

Government forces used force on the protesters in which dozens of civilians were injured, three of them critically.