Five militants were killed in a gunfight at Chowgam area of south Kashmir's Kulgam district on Saturday.Reports reaching GNS said that a joint team of army, SOG and CRPF launched a cordon-and-search operation at Chowgam, Qazigund late last night.A police spokesman in a statement issued here said that in the intervening night the joint team of forces launched a search operation in Chowgam area of Qazigund Kulgam based on credible inputs about the presence of militants in the area."During the search operation, militants fired on the search party. Initially, the civilians were moved away from the site of the encounter to safer locations. Security Forces then engaged the militants in an encounter," the spokesman said."In the ensuing encounter, five militants were killed. This was a group of militants involving HM and LeT outfits. The slain were identified as Gulzar Ahmad Padder alias Saif resident of Adijan Kulgam, Faisal Ahmad Rather alias Dawood resident of Yamrach Kulgam, Zahid Ahmad Mir alias Hashim resident of Okey Kulgam, Masroor Molvi alias Abu Darda resident of Fatehpora Anantnag and Zahoor Ahmad Lone alias Rehman Bhai resident of Nagnad Noorabad Damhal Hanjipora",Gulzar Paddar was a close associate of Altaf Kachroo and was involved in a series of militant attacks including killing of five police personnel at Pambay last year along with two bank employees, the spokesman said."He was also involved in the killings of SPO at Krewan Chidder in Kulgam. Besides he was involved in looting police guards at Damhaal and weapon snatching cases reported across Kulgam and many other bank robbery cases attempted in the area",Zahid of Okey village was wanted for his involvement in the killing of policeman Fayaz Ahmad of Zainapora on the day of Eid, the spokesman said."Faisal was involved in the killing of Policeman Gowhar Ahmad who was posted in Shopian last year. Zahoor @ Rehman and Mansoor were involved in series of offenses besides recruitment bid in the locality",Arms and ammunition were also seized from the site of encounter. Police have registered a case and initiated an investigation in the instant matter.All but Gulzar Ahmad Padroo were laid to rest at the native villages with thousands of people participating in their funerals. (GNS)