Four army personnel, including a major were killed in a an overnight encounter in  Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama in the wee hours of Monday just a few days after 40 Central reserve Police Force (CRPF)  jawans were killed in a suicide attack by Jish-e-Mohammad suicide bomber.

The Army officer is identified as Major DS Dondial. Other soldiers killed are Head Constable Save Ram, Sepoy Ajay Kumar and Sepoy Hari Singh.

The martyred soldiers belong to the 55 Rashtriya Rifles contingent of the Indian Army.

A civilian named Mushtaq Ahmad was also reportedly killed in the encounter said police sources.

The Jammu and Kashmir police and Indian Army launched a joint operation at Pinglan village in Pulwama district on Monday after they received reports two or three Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM)  militants trapped at the site.

Heavy firing was going on and announcements were being made appealing to villagers to stay indoors.