NEW DELHI, March 5 (Xinhua) -- A militant and three others accompanying have been killed in an army ambush in restive Indian-controlled Kashmir, officials said.

According to Indian military spokesman colonel Rajesh Kalia, an army vehicle was fired upon by militants at village Pohan in Shopian district, about 53 km south of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir, Sunday night.

"A joint mobile vehicle check post near Pohan in Shopian was fired upon by militants at 8:00 p.m. (local time) from a vehicle. In the retaliatory fire, one militant was killed and a weapon has been found with him," Kalia said. "The accomplices who were accompanying the militant were also found to be dead."

Locals however contested the army version, saying the three were civilians.

Following the clash massive protests broke out in the area against the killings.

Police officials said they had initiated investigations into the incident.

Separatist groups demanding an end to New Delhi's rule have called for a shutdown in the region on Monday to protest what they described as civilian killings.

A guerrilla war is going on between militants and Indian troops stationed in Indian-controlled Kashmir since 1989. The gunfight between the two sides takes place intermittently across the region.

Kashmir, the Himalayan region divided between India and Pakistan, is claimed by both in full. Since their independence from Britain, the two countries have fought three wars, two exclusively over Kashmir.