New Delhi: In a gunfight with security forces, four Al-Badr terrorists were caught, while three managed to flee.

The development comes just a day after four youths had announced joining the militant outfit.

The four newly recruited militants four newly recruited militants were arrested with arms and ammunition in Jammu and Kashmir's Kupwara district.

Security forces launched an operation to stop them from exfiltrating across the Line of Control (LoC) in Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir.

"On receipt of credible information about four newly recruited terrorists being guided by three terrorists of Al-Badr for a planned exfiltration, the Army in a joint operation with police, laid an ambush and trapped the terrorists in upper reaches of Kalaroos in Handwara," Srinagar-based defence spokesman Col Rajesh Kalia said here.

He said that after a brief gunfight, "extreme restraint was exercised and opportunity given to the terrorists to surrender".

"While the four newly recruited terrorists surrendered. The three Al-Badr terrorists deserted the new recruits and fled under the cover of fire," Col Kalia said, adding war-like stores were recovered from their possession.

The search is on to trace the other militants, the spokesman said.

The four youths from Kupwara district were arrested barely 24 hours after their pictures showing them wielding AK Rifles went viral on social media.