3 militants killed in J&K gunfight (Lead)

Srinagar : A Pakistani commander of the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and two Kashmiri militants were killed and seven security men injured in an 18-hour-long gun battle that ended on Sunday here in the outskirts of the Jammu and Kashmir capital, police sources said.

The exact identity of the slain militants was being ascertained.

An Indian soldier, a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) trooper and three policemen were injured after the encounter broke out on Saturday evening in the Mujgund area following a tip off.

Four residential houses were also damaged during the operation as militants kept on changing locations during the gunfight within the cordoned off area.

Civilian protesters clashed with security forces the moment the gun battle ended earlier.

Authorities have suspended mobile Internet services in Srinagar district.