Srinagar: Four militants have been killed in an ongoing gunfight that ensued between government forces and militants in Pulwama village of southern Kashmir Saturday morning.

Police sources said that the gunfight erupted in Hanjan village of the south Kashmir district after a joint team of government forces including army’s 44 Rashtriya Rifles, CRPF’s 182, 183 Battalions and Special Operations Group of Jammu and Kashmir police launched a cordon and search operation in the village following credible inputs about presence of militants in the area.

They said that as the cordon was being tightened around the suspected house, the hiding militants fired on the government forces triggering a gunfight. Four militants have been killed in the initial exchange of fire, police sources said. “The slain militants belong to Jaish e Muhammad.”

Meanwhile violent clashes between government forces and civilian protesters have erupted in the village following the gunfight.