Encounter breaks out between security forces and militants in J-K's Shopian

Srinagar: An encounter broke out between security forces and militants in Shopian district of Jammu and Kashmir on Monday, police said.

Security forces launched a cordon-and-search operation in the Pinjora area of Shopian, in South Kashmir, this morning after receiving specific information about the presence of militants in the area, a police official said.

He said the search operation turned into an encounter after militants fired upon a search party of the forces, who retaliated.

The exchange of fire is going on and further details are awaited.

This is the second encounter in the Shopian district in the past 24 hours.

Five Hizbul Mujahideen militants, including a self-styled commander, were killed in the gunbattle with security forces in the Reban area of the district on Sunday.