An elderly Kashmiri couple held hostage by terrorists in Poonch district were rescued by security forces.
A couple in their seventies were trapped inside their house for several hours on Sunday with terrorists in the same building, exchanging fire with security forces.
The terrorists entered the two-storey building, which is partly under construction, around 8 in the morning.
Haji Nazir Mir, who is bedridden, and his wife Mumtaz Mir, could not escape when security forces evacuated other residents in the neighbourhood.
Mr Mir is a cousin of Congress lawmaker Jahangir Hussain Mir.
Special Operation Group of the J&K Police discuss their strategy of tackling a hostage situation.
In long hours of firing, three terrorists and a policeman were killed while five army men were injured.
Reports said Mr Mir and his wife had locked themselves inside a room in the building. The police said it was a major challenge to make sure that the couple was safe while the firing was on.
They were rescued unhurt after all the terrorists were killed around 7:15 pm, police said.
"The couple, who were held hostage, have been safely evacuated. Three terrorists have been killed," senior police officer Johny Willian was quoted as telling the Press Trust of India.