One militant killed in encounter in Sopore

An unidentified militant was today killed in an encounter with security forces in Sopore township of north Kashmir's Baramulla district, police said.

Acting on specific intelligence input about the presence of militants in Reban area of Sopore, security forces launched a "cordon and search operation" this morning, a police official said.

When the forces were conducting the search operation, militants opened fire upon them following which the security personnel retaliated, triggering an encounter in which one militant was killed, the officer said.

The identity of the slain militant was being ascertained, he added.

Receiving specific inputs about a militant hide-out, security forces including the Rashtriya Rifles and the Special Operations Group (SOG) of the state police surrounded Reban village on the outskirts of Sopore town.

"As the cordon was tightened, hiding militants opened fire at the security forces triggering the gunfight, which is still on," a police official said.

Authorities have closed all educational institutions, including Higher Secondary schools and the Degree College in Sopore.

Internet services have also been suspended in the area to prevent any misinformation.