Two militants and a civilian were killed in an overnight encounter with security forces in Kulgam district of South Kashmir, police said on Friday.
"Two militants were killed in an encounter with security forces in Chenigam village of Kulgam," a police spokesman said, adding, "a civilian who was injured in the firing later succumbed to his injuries."
Security forces had launched a cordon and search operation in the village last evening following information about presence of militants in the area, he said.
The spokesman said the security forces' party was fired upon by the militants, which was retaliated, triggering off a fierce gun battle.
He said the slain militants have been identified as Mohammad Abbas Malla alias Khatab and Manzoor-ul-Haq Malik, both residents of Kulgam.
"An AK rifle and an INSAS rifle have been recovered from the encounter site," the spokesman added.
After the bodies of the militants were recovered, firing started again at the scene of the encounter, resulting in injuries to three security force personnel and a civilian, he said.
The civilian -- identified as 25-year-old Tariq Ahmad Bhat -- succumbed to injuries, he said.
However, local residents contested the police claim saying Bhat was shot at by retreating security forces from the scene of encounter when they came under stone-pelting by youth demanding the bodies of slain militants.
The police spokesman refused to comment on the claims of the local residents.
He said two army personnel and a CRPF jawan were injured in the fresh firing at the spot that also resulted in injuries to the deceased civilian.
The spokesman said the slain militants were involved in several militancy-related incidents in south Kashmir for the past couple of years.
"Abbas Malla joined Lashkar-e-Taiba ranks in 2013 and was involved in an attack on a police party at Arwani and the recent attack on CRPF at Lavdora in Qazigund," he said.
"Malik was involved in the killing of Nasir Mir of Shopian in May this year, besides being involved in Lavdora attack," he added.
He said the operation was still in progress.
