Eight persons, including one army trooper and seven militants were killed and three others wounded in two encounters in north Kashmir Kupwara border district Wednesday.

Police said members of the Special Operations Group of the local police surrounded some houses in Sangran Pati village of Kupwara district on Tuesday, following reports that militants had been hiding inside.

"A fierce gunfight ensued between the holed up militants and surrounding SOG jawans who were assisted by the troops of 17 Dogra regiment in Sangran Pati village early Wednesday morning."

"Four militants -- all of them foreigners -- died in the encounter while no casualty was suffered by the SOG and the army troops. One residential house, which was being used as a fortified bunker by the militants also got destroyed in the encounter," a senior police officer told this correspondent.

In another encounter in the Cherwari Gulgam village of the same district, a patrol party of the 11 Gorkha regiment was fired upon by a group of militants. Subsequently, a pitched gunfight started between the security forces and the militants.

"Three militants and a soldier were killed in the encounter. Three other troopers, including a major, were injured in the exchange of automatic fire between the militants and the security forces," Indian army [Images] spokesman, Colonel A K Mathur said.

Arms and ammunition recovered from the two encounter sites, include seven AK-47 rifles, 25 magazines, besides a satellite phone, and some Pakistan currency notes.