Police sources said search operation began in Branpathri forest area of Tral tehsil of Pulwama district following information about the presence of a group of militants there.
Watch | Exchange of fire amid terrorists and security forces in Tral
"Hiding militants opened fire at the security forces after the cordon around them was tightened. Intermittent firing exchanges are now going on between the security forces and the militants hiding in the area," police sources said.
Earlier on 18th if June, two Jaish-e-Mohammed militants, including one wanted in connection with the Pulwama attack, and an Army soldier were killed in an encounter in Jammu and Kashmir's Anantnag district. The security forces had launched a cordon-and-search operation in Bijbehara area of the south Kashmir district in the morning following inputs about the presence of militants. The operation had turned into an encounter after the militants opened fire on the forces, an officer said.
An Army jawan was injured in the gun battle and he succumbed to injuries at a hospital, the official said.