A total of seven militants along with a civilian have been killed in four separate encounters in the last 24 hours at separate places in Jammu and Kashmir.

Two Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) militants were killed in a fierce gunfight with security forces in Bandipora district on Friday. One of the militants killed in the encounter in the district's Hajin area was identified as Pakistan-based LeT commander Ali Bhai. A 10-year-old boy, who was held hostage, was also killed in the encounter.

Two more militants were killed in an encounter in Shopian district's Ratnipora area on Friday. Security forces had holed up several militants inside a house in Ratnipora, officials said.

A team of Special Operations Group (SOG) and 34 Rashtriya Rifles of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) were carrying out a cordon and search operation in the area.

Visuals from Shopian encounter. (Photo: Mohammed Iqbal)

In Sopore's Warpora area, security forces killed another militant after a gunfight on Friday.

As a precautionary measure, internet services have been snapped in Shopian and Sopore while in other parts of south Kashmir, it has been reduced to 2G. All educational institutions have also been closed in Sopore.

On Thursday, two Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) militants were killed in an encounter with security forces at Kalantara in Baramulla district while three security force personnel, including an officer, suffered injuries during the operation.