DIG North Kashmir V K Birdi said that the woman was killed in the cross-fire after she tried to escape from the house where the militants were trapped.
Protests erupted in Younsu village of Handwara area of north Kashmir’s Kupwara district on Monday against the killing of a woman in the gunfight that also left three militants dead.
Reports said that protesters placed the body of the woman, identified as Misra Bano, on a road to protest the killing.
DIG North Kashmir V K Birdi said that the woman was killed in the cross-fire after she tried to escape from the house where the militants were trapped.
Earlier, three militants were killed in the gunfight with forces in Younsu village, police said.
An official said that a joint party of army, CRPF and SOG of Jammu and Kashmir police cordoned off Younsu village of Handwara after “specific” inputs about the presence of militants.
“The militants opened fire after forces challenged them, triggering a gunfight,” he said.
Director General of Police (DGP) S P Vaid said that three militants were killed in the gunfight.
In a tweet, he said that all the three militants, “apparently Pakistanis”, were killed by joint team of J&K Police, RR & CRPF.
“It has been raining whole night & boys (forces personnel) were out there in the cold,” he tweeted