Four army personnel, including a major, were killed and four others injured in a militant attack in Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir [Images] on Friday, police sources said.

An army patrolling party of 14 Maratha Light Infantry was on its way for an operation in Dharamshal area of Rajouri district on Friday afternoon on specific information about the presence of militants in the area, the sources said.

Militants had set-up ambushes at Bandri area in Kalarara forests in the belt in the district and, as the troops led by Major Satayjet Shinday reached the place, hurled grenades and opened indiscriminate firing on them around 1300 IST, they said.

Troops took positions and fired back, they said. In the subsequent firing four army personnel were killed and four others injured.

The dead included Major Shinday, the leader of the operation party.

Brigadier General Staff of the 16 corps, Brig Dhruv Katoch, said additional troops have been sent to the area.