Five Central Reserve Police Force personnel were killed and four security officials were injured after a patrol team was attacked by suspected militants in Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday, PTI reported. A militant was killed in the encounter and an AK series assault rifle was recovered from him, the news agency reported quoting officials.

The incident took place at KP Road near General Bus Stand, PTI reported. The suspected militants fired at the security forces with automatic rifles, and hurled grenades.

Earlier, a CRPF spokesperson had said that motorcycle-borne terrorists fired upon security officials. Injured personnel were evacuated to Janglad Mandi hospital, where two of them succumbed to their injuries.

The gun battle between security forces and the suspected militants is still going on, said the state police. Unidentified officials said the station house officer at Anantnag Police Station, Arshad Ahmed, was among those injured. He has been reportedly shifted to Srinagar for treatment.

This attack comes almost four months after Pakistan-based outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed killed 40 security personnel in Pulwama on February 14. In retaliation, India targetted a Jaish-e-Mohammed camp in Balakot in Pakistan.