PULWAMA; ( KD ) A fierce gunfight which erupted in a South Kashmir's Pulwom district Friday ended after a militant was killed, while his comrades managed to escape, sources said on Saturday.

Following the killing of the militant, the authorities imposed curfew in the main town and in few other parts of the district, witnesses and reports said.

The encounter had raged Friday evening after militants fired upon a party of police's Special Operation Group (SOG) in Kangan village. The forces retaliated with firing and immediately cordoned off the area, police said.

The militants, who were two in number, according to police, while other reports said they were four in number, took refuge in a residential house of Ghulam Hasan Dar, and started firing on forces.

In the initial exchange of fire, a militant was killed, a police officer said.

The government forces halted the operation for the night. However, sources said the other militants had took advantage of darkness, and managed to flee from the cordon area.

The slain militant, who is a local, has been identified as Aijaz Ahmad Charsoo, however other reports initially suggested that he was Tauseef Ahmad Dar. Police, so far, has not confirmed his identity.

The authorities, fearing protests, imposed a strict curfew in the town early in the morning. Few other parts of the district, including Kangan, were also placed under curfew-like restriction, witnesses said.

Huge contingents of police and paramilitary troopers are guarding the sensitive areas, witnesses added.

Journalists in the town accused government forces of interfering in their professional duties. A photo journalist told Kashmir Dispatch that SOG men snatched their cameras and deleted pictures, while they were covering the situation in the town. He alleged that they also hurled abuses.

A senior police officer has assured journalists that he will look into matter.