He said some of the shells fell in Lata Tangdar village causing extensive damage to about three houses.

He said one shell hit the house of Mohammad Ashraf killing his wife, daughter and son. He said Riyaz Ahmad was also seriously injured in the incident. He died later.

The sources said Indian troops also retaliated. The casualties suffered by Pakistani troops was not immediately known.

Pakistani troops have been firing mortars and artillery shells from across the border in the northern sector almost continuously since the past one week. At least 17 Pakistani soldiers were killed after Indian troops repulsed their attempt to capture a post in the Uri sector recently. Four Indian soldiers also lost their lives and three were injured.

Defence sources said Pakistani troops have started firing shells only to push in more trained militants in the valley before all infiltration routes are closed due to snow.

The sources said at least six inches to one feet snow was experienced in the border areas of northern sector during the past 10 days.

DGP Gurbachan Jagat had recently said that more than 2000 fresh militants had sneaked into the Indian side from the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir after the Kargil conflict.

He said about 1,000 boys had also crossed over to the occupied Kashmir from here for receiving arms training there.

The spokesman said militants made an unsuccessful attempt on the life of senior counter insurgent leader and chairman of the Peoples Patriotic Front Ghulam Nabi Azad by attacking his house at Anantnag late last night. However, guards posted at the house returned the fire. There were no reports of any casualties

He said militants attacked a security force search party at Darhal last evening with automatic weapons and grenades. The security forces returned the fire and in the clash four militants, believed to be foreigners,were killed. One JCO also lost his life, he said and added three AK rifles,132 magazines, two grenades, four wireless sets, Rs 2098 and 22 rounds were seized.

He said unidentified militants shot at and wounded Bilal Ahmad Dar at Malikpora in Pulwama last evening. Dar later died in the hospital.

He said militants today shot dead Abdul Rehman Waza at Frestahar Baramula when he was on way to nearby mosque for offering prayers while the body of Abdul Salam was recovered from Dangerpora last night.

A report from Baramula said six gunmen in uniform entered the house of Ghulam Nabi Ganai and fired indiscriminately with automatic weapons early this morning. Waheed Ahmad, son of Mr Ganai, was killed on the spot and another person was injured.

Eyewitnesses told UNI that the gunmen later escaped in a Tata Sumo. People of the area took to the streets and blocked traffic in protest against the incident, the reports said.

The spokesman said the security forces killed two militants during a search operation at Aragam Bandipora in Baramula district this afternoon while two bodies were recovered from Zainagir in Anantnag and Mohra in Baramula last evening.

Militants hurled a hand grenade towards a security force picket at Qamarwari last evening. However, the grenade missed the intended target and exploded on the roadside causing injuries to six pedestrians and a security jawan. The injured were admitted to hospital, he said.

The Jammu and Kashmir Police arrested two persons and recovered some arms and ammunition including one AK rifle, one pistol, four remote control devices, 17 grenades,120 rounds and 3.5 kg of explosives in Srinagar and Kupwara during overnight operations.