Soldier, Hizb militant killed in Kashmir

A soldier and a militant were killed and two security personnel injured on Tuesday in a gunfight between security forces and militants in Jammu and Kashmir's Kulgam district.

Police said a soldier and a policeman were injured in the fighting in Nowbug village of Devsar area.

"The slain militant has been identified as Muzamil Ahmad of Yaripora village of Kulgam district. He was an engineering graduate and had been active in the area for over three years. He was a militant of Hizbul Mujahideen," a police officer said here.

The injured soldier and policeman were shifted to a hospital.

Authorities suspended Internet services in south Kashmir areas and ordered the suspension of train service for the day after the gunfight started.

Security forces had surrounded Nowbug village after receiving information about the presence of militants there.

Police said as the security forces tightened the cordon around the village, they were fired at by the militants, triggering the fighting.

Also on Tuesday, security forces busted a militant hideout in Laam village in Pulwama district, official sources said. -IANS