Suspected militants Tuesday morning shot dead an Indian policeman in India-controlled Kashmir, police said.

The attack took place around 10:30 a.m. local time in Sopore town, 50 km northwest of Srinagar city, the summer capital of India-controlled Kashmir.

"Suspected militants surfaced from a lane in Sopore town and fired volley of bullets on a policeman. Though he was removed to hospital immediately, doctors declared him brought dead. The attack was carried out opposite police station," said police spokesman in Srinagar.

Though policemen posted in the police station retaliated fire but no militant was reported injured.

Soon after, the shootout militants escaped from the spot firing shots in air to scare the policemen.

The slain policeman has been identified as head constable Mohammed Yousf working with the police investigation wing.

The contingents of police and paramilitary troopers were rushed to spot and a manhunt was launched to trace the assailants.

Sopore town has been constantly in news for the past two months. The town has seen a spurt in militant activities. In December 2008, four paramilitary troopers of India's Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) were killed and their weapons snatched in a militant ambush.

Militants occasionally target police and paramilitary troopers in the region. The gun fighting between militants and Indian army troopers in Indian-controlled Kashmir takes place intermittently.