Srinagar, Dec 25 (PTI): Three paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) troopers were killed and one critically wounded in a fratricidal shootout in Kulgam district of Jammu and Kashmir Sunday, police said.

"An altercation broke out between some jawans of the 18th Battalion of CRPF inside their Kulgam camp, and they opened fire at each other," a senior police officer told IANS.

"Four jawans were injured in the shootout. While three succumbed to injuries, the fourth has been shifted to Srinagar for treatment."

Police said the jawans involved in the shootout were CRPF drivers.

Senior police and CRPF officers have rushed to the spot to take stock of the situation.

Fratricidal shootouts have taken place many times in the past as well within the security forces doing counter insurgency duties in Jammu and Kashmir during the last two decades.

Continued separation from family, long duty hours, lack of recreational facilities, poor command and control structure have been cited as reasons for such incidents by counsellors engaged to address the problem.