Srinagar:  Three terrorists were gunned down in an encounter between them and security forces in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district on Saturday morning. The gunbattle also martyred one soldier.  Also, six other civilians died in subsequent clashes in the area, police said. 

The encounter broke out after upon receiving a tip-off, the security forces began a search operation in Sirnoo village. Soon the terorists opened firing at the security officials and the army began retaliatory firing, which killed three terrorists.

"As the security forces closed in on the hiding militants, they fired triggering the ongoing gunfight," the police said.

Two youths, identified as Amir Ahmad and Abid Hussain, sustained gun shot injuries in the clashes which erupted at the gunfight site between protesting civilians and the security forces.

They were declared brought dead in a hospital. Four other civilian protesters who were brought for treatment, have also succumbed to their injuries, doctors said.