Srinagar, December 25:

The nearly 48-hour siege of a mosque in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kulgam area ended today after two hostages were freed and the three holed-up Hizbul Mujahideen guerrillas were gunned down, police here said.

“All the three holed up militants were killed in the gunfight that ended yesterday night. The two remaining civilians taken hostage by the militants were rescued. We are now searching the area to secure it. Window panes of the mosque were damaged in the firing,” a senior

police officer said. He said militants had begun firing at the surrounding security forces yesterday. The fire was returned and the militants were killed in the gunfight.

The tense standoff at Palnu village in south Kashmir Kulgam district had begun on Sunday when troops of the Rashtriya Rifles and special operations group of the state police surrounded the village on information about presence of militants. After a brief exchange of fire, the militants entered the village mosque. Five civilians, who fled towards the mosque to escape being caught in the crossfire, were held hostage. “While three civilians came out safely, the remaining two were safely rescued late last night,” the officer said.