The gunfight in the south Kashmir Dadsara village, 30 kms from capital Srinagar erupted as Indian army troops and police jointly surrounded and stormed a house where a group of insurgents were hiding, according to police.

They said holed up insurgents opened indiscriminate automatic fire at the raiding party of the Indian security forces, killing a police official and an army soldier on the spot.

Authorities rushed reinforcements to the spot and the cordon around the house was strengthened.

“In the ensuing firing exchange, a top insurgent commander of Hizbul Mujaheedin outfit identified as Sajad Ahmad was killed.

“The firing has stopped, but the operation is still on. We are searching the area now,” a senior police officer said.

Meanwhile a middle rung police officer escaped unhurt in a grenade attack in the old city this evening.

“The police officer was in the area to investigate a traffic accident. As he was leaving the site of the accident in his bullet proof vehicle, militants tossed a grenade which exploded without causing any damage.”