Srinagar: A gunfight ensued between militants and government forces in Kharpora village of Pulwama district in southern Kashmir Saturday morning.

Reports said that army’s 55 RR,183/182 CRPF and SOG of Jammu and Kashmir Police cordoned off Kharpora village and launched a search operation.

”As the searches were going on, the militants fired upon the government forces triggering a gunfight,” the reports said.

They said two militants are believed to be trapped in a residential house in the village.

Meanwhile reports said that intense clashes erupted between civilian protesters and government forces near the encounter site.

“As the gunfight ensued, the local residents assembled around the site and engged government forces in stone pelting clashes amid pro freedom and anti India slogans. The Government forces fired tearsmoke shells and pellets to disperse the protesters.”