Rediff.com's Mukhtar Ahmad reports that the suspected militants opened fire near the gate of the four-star hotel at Pantha chowk-Parimpora bypass road on the outskirts of Sringar city, killing an employee.

The incident happened at around 4:20 pm and all the vicitms -- one dead and possibly three injured -- are employees of the hotel.

The person who is dead has been identified as Farooq Ahmad, police said.

It is believed that hotel or a security forces convoy passing through the area was the target of the militants Security forces have cordoned off the area and launched a hunt to track down the militants, the police said.

The injured have been taken to hospital.

Additional inputs from PTI.