Srinagar, July 21 (IANS) Two separatist guerrillas, including a top commander of the Harkat-ul-Mujaheedin (HuM), and a soldier were killed in a fierce gunfight in Jammu and Kashmir’s Sopore town, police said Wednesday.

A senior police officer said security forces surrounded a house in Hygam village under Sopore police district, 48 km from here, early Tuesday on specific information about a group of guerrillas hiding inside it.

‘As the holed up militants were challenged to surrender, they opened fire at the surrounding Rashtriya Rifles (RR) troops and Special Operations Group personnel resulting in on the spot death of a RR jawan.’

‘The firing exchanges continued till late Tuesday and early this morning bodies of two militants, one of them identified as Nauman, divisional commander of the HuM outfit, were recovered from the debris.’

He said arms and ammunition, including two AK-47 rifles and five magazines, have also been recovered from the house.

‘Searches in the area are still continuing,’ the officer said.