Two guerrillas killed in Kashmir gunfight

Two separatist guerrillas were killed and a civilian was injured in a gunfight between the security forces and militants in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district on Sunday, police said.

"Security forces surrounded Astan Mohalla (Kakpora) in Pulwama district today (Sunday) following specific information about the presence of militants there," a police officer said here.

When the hiding militants were challenged, they fired indiscriminately at at the security forces triggering a gun battle, he said.

"Two militants belonging to Hizbul Mujahideen were killed in this operation which is still going on," the police officer said.

Some people from the neighbouring Lalhar village indulged in heavy stone pelting at the security forces who had cordoned off the area during the gunfight.

"To quell the mob, security forces fired in the air during which a protesting civilian sustained a gunshot injury in his leg," the officer said.

The injured civilian was shifted to a hospital where doctors said his condition was out of danger.