Jawan, two militants killed in J&K encounter

Two militants and an Army jawan were killed in an encounter in Bandipora district of Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday, officials said.

The encounter broke out in Paner forest in the periphery of Bandipora town, 55 km from Srinagar, when a security search party confronted hiding militants.

They said two ultras and a jawan were killed in the gun battle.

The identity and group affiliation of the slain militants could not be ascertained immediately as the operation was still on, the officials said.

Security forces had launched a massive search operation in the forests of Bandipora last week following information about movement of militants.

With the killing of two ultras on Sunday, the number of slain militants in the operation has risen to three.

Security forces also cordoned off nearby Dardpora forest in the wee hours to flush out militants.