Three Indian security force officers, including an army colonel and major, were killed in a gun battle in the Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday.

Another Indian soldier was killed in a separate gunfight in Rajouri where two Kashmiri militants also died.

The Indian security personnel were killed in a gun battle in the Anantnag area of the Indian occupied Kashmir.

The encounter broke out between the Indian security forces and militants hiding in the Kokernag area of Anantnag district, an Indian police official claimed.

The team of security personnel was chasing militants in a hideout when two to three militants hiding inside a building opened fire India media outlets reported.

Colonel Manpreet, the commanding officer of 19 Rashtraya Rifles died on the spot, while Major Aashish and DSP Humayun Bhat received gunshots. They were airlifted to a hospital in Srinagar where they succumbed to their injuries.

The death of three officer including a commanding officer has shocked Indian administration in the valley. The GOC of the 15th Corp, which controls the occupied Kashmir, rushed to Anantnag.

In a similar incident in the occupied Kashmir in April, five Indian soldiers were killed when unidentified gunmen opened fire at an army vehicle. In August last year, militants attacked an Indian army post, killing three soldiers.

Modi criticised for hosting dinner

Meanwhile, India Prime Minister Narendra Modi has come under fire for hosting a party event to celebrate victory in Madhya Pradesh on the day when Indian soldiers were killed.

The gun battle in Anantnag raged for hours before deaths were announced but Modi did not cancel the event being held at BJP headquarters in Delhi.

Modi’s claims about making Kashmir an integral part of India by scrapping Article 370 are also being questioned after the attack.