Srinagar, June 27 (IANS) Two separatist guerrillas and a trooper were killed in a shootout in north Kashmir Friday morning, the police said. Troops of 24 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) and Special Operations Group (SOG) of the state police surrounded the forest area at Kachpathri near Kangan in Ganderbal district, 35 kms from here. Massive searches were launched on specific information about the presence of a group of insurgents, the police said.

“During the searches, hiding militants opened fire at the security forces, resulting in the death on-the-spot of a soldier. Another trooper was critically wounded and was evacuated to hospital,” a police officer said.

“The cordon was further tightened and the hiding militants were engaged in a sustained gunfight. Two militants have been killed,” the officer said.

“Arms and ammunition have also been recovered from the slain militants,” claimed the officer.