SRINAGAR, Indian-controlled Kashmir, March 28 (Xinhua) -- A militant was killed Thursday in fierce gunfight with government forces in restive Indian-controlled Kashmir, police said.

The gunfight erupted at village Yaroo - Handwara of frontier Kupwara district, about 73 km northwest of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir.

"This morning based on a credible information about the presence of militants in Yaroo area of Handwara, a cordon and search operation was jointly launched by police and army, following which gunfight broke," a police official said. "During the stand-off a militant was killed."

Reports said the slain militant was identified as a local cadre of Jaish-e-Mohammed outfit.

Authorities have suspended mobile internet service in the district.

Earlier during the day three militants were killed in a gunfight with government force in Yarwan forest area of Keller in Shopian district, about 65 km south of Srinagar.