One militant killed in Kashmir gunfight

One separatist guerrilla of the Hizbul Mujahideen outfit was killed Wednesday in a gunfight which is still on between the security forces and holed up guerrillas in Jammu and Kashmir's Shopian district.

"Following specific intelligence reports about the presence of two Hizbul Mujahideen militants in Shermaal village (Shopian), troops surrounded the village yesterday (Tuesday) evening," a senior police officer told IANS here.

"When the security forces closed on the hiding militants, they resorted to indiscriminate firing triggering an encounter.

"One of the hiding militants has been killed so far," the officer said.

The operation which was stopped Tuesday evening due to darkness in the area was re-started in the morning, the officer added.