J&K: Encounter breaks out in Pulwama; one soldier killed

The clash broke out during a cordon and search operation launched by the security forces in the Mitrigam of South Kashmir's Pulwama district.

Pulwama:One army soldier was killed during an encounter that broke out between security forces and militants in Pulwama district here on Wednesday at around 5 pm, the police officials informed. The official was shifted to a hospital immediately, though he succumbed to the injuries while receiving treatment.

Earlier, the Kashmir Zone Police took to Twitter to inform that 2-3 terrorists, including foreign terrorists of the JeM terror outfit, are trapped inside a cordon. "Ops were halted for the evacuation of civilians. 1 soldier was injured. Precautions are being taken to avoid collateral damage. Trapped terrorists will be neutralized at the earliest," a part of the tweet read.

The officials informed that the search operation turned into an encounter after militants opened fire at the security forces. The exchange of fire between the two sides continued for a few minutes, after which it stopped, suggesting that the militants had managed to dodge the army.

The clash broke out during a cordon and search operation launched by a joint team of 44 Rashtriya Rifles CRPF 182,183 battalions of the Army and the police in the Mitrigam of South Kashmir's Pulwama district. The military said it had received a tip-off about the presence of militants in the area and that joint forces had launched a search operation in the area. According to the military, as the joint teams approached the suspected location, the militants in hiding opened fire on the forces, after which an exchange of fire ensued between the two sides.

According to reports, the security personnel, 44 Rashtriya Rifles, and CRPF have cordoned off the area. The army had reportedly received verified reports of militants in the area, which followed a search operation in accordance with the information.