From correspondents in Jammu and Kashmir, India, 12:00 AM IST

A paramilitary trooper and a separatist guerrilla were killed in a fierce gun battle in the Kashmir Valley Monday.

A police spokesman said the Indian Army, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Special Operations Group (SOG) of the state police jointly surrounded a house in the Trikulbal village near Palhallan Pattan on the Srinagar-Uri highway in Baramulla district.

'The militants present in the house opened fire at the security forces resulting in on the spot death of CRPF trooper Amit Kumar and injuries to four security men,' the spokesman said.

'More reinforcements were rushed to the spot and the hiding militants were engaged in a sustained gunfight, at the end of which one militant identified as Abdul Rashid Beigh of the Hizbul Mujaheedin outfit was killed.'

Arms and ammunition were also recovered from the house, which was partially damaged during the gunfight, the spokesman said.

(Staff Writer, © IANS)