Srinagar, Oct 1 (IANS) Four separatist guerrillas have been killed in a gunfight that broke out Saturday after army troops intercepted a group of infiltrating militants on the Line of Control (LoC) in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district, police said. Firing was continuing at night.

Troops of the army spotted a group of heavily armed infiltrating guerrillas in the Keran sector of the LOC and challenged them, a police officer said.

‘The intruding militants started firing at the army troops, resulting in an encounter which is still on. So far, four militants have been killed in this ongoing encounter,’ the officer added.

Just two days back, five guerrillas, an army lieutenant and a soldier, and two policemen were killed in the five-day long gunfight between the security forces and the guerrillas in the Awath Kul forests of the same district.

Security forces have strengthened vigil along the LOC in the state as intelligence reports here indicate guerrilla groups are preparing to cross the borders and sneak in before the mountain passes are blocked by the winter snows this year.