A Pakistani militant belonging to the Lashkar-e-Tayiba outfit was among three killed in two separate encounters on Sunday in Jammu and Kashmir, where three militants remain holed up in a mosque.
The militants were holed up inside a mosque at Palnoo village in Kulgam district after army troops launched a search operation in the village following specific information about the presence of miltants, a defence spokesman said.
He said two persons, including a jawan, were injured in the initial firing by militants from inside the mosque.
However, the troops exercised restraint and did not return fire keeping in mind the sanctity of the place of worship and safety of the people.
A police spokesman said the incident took place when the people were coming out after offering mid-day prayers. The militants, numbering between two to three, have also taken some worshippers hostage, he said adding there was no firing between police and the militants throughout the day.
Efforts are on to ensure safe release of civilians, the spokesman said adding, the police is using loudspeakers to motivate the militants to come out and surrender.
In another incident, the spokesman said a Pakistani militant of Lashker-e-Tayiba outfit Abu Umar was killed in a gunbattle at village Hurah in Ramban district on Sunday afternoon.
Two more militants were killed in an encounter at Papachan in Bandipora district on Sunday evening, the spokesman said.
The latest incidents ended the week-long lull in violence -- witnessed for the first time since the eruption of militancy in the state 18 years back, the spokesman said.