SRINAGAR, June 6: The Indian army on Friday gunned down eight freedom fighters in an encounter in southern Kashmir, an army spokesman said.

The late evening encounter, which was continuing, took place in Weehbagh village of southern Pulwama district, 50km from Srinagar, the state’s summer capital.

Six army soldiers were also injured in the gunfight.

“The troops had specific information about the presence of militants in the village,” army spokesman Lt-Col Mukhtiar Singh told AFP.

“Once the columns of troops closed in on a specific hideout, the militants fired from within. The fire was returned and in the ensuing gunbattle, so far eight militants have been killed. Some structures have also caught fire,” he added.