A soldier and a militant were killed in a gunfight in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district on Monday, the Army said, denying earlier reports that two soldiers died.
Defence Ministry spokesman Colonel Rajesh Kalia said the operation against the militants in Ratnipora village had ended.
"One terrorist has been killed and one soldier has been martyred in this operation," he said, adding that a weapon was recovered from the slain terrorist.
Earlier reports quoting police sources said two soldiers were killed in the gunfight and that one was injured.
The injured soldiers were taken to the Army's 92 Base Hospital in Badamibagh cantonment area of Srinagar.
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The slain militant, identified as Hilal Ahmad Rather, was a local Kashmiri working for the Hizbul Mujahideen outfit.
Police sources said Hilal Ahmed Rather joined the Hizbul as an active militant after he was spotted in a CCTV footage helping the escape of Naveed Jatt, a Pakistan militant of LeT, from Srinagar's S.M.H.S. hospital on February 6, 2018.
Naveed Jatt, believed to be responsible for the murder of senior Kashmiri journalist Shujaat Bukhari, was killed by security forces in Badgam district on November 8.
Two to three holed up militants had triggered a gunfight earlier on Tuesday with the security forces during a search operation.
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Receiving specific information about the militant presence, the search and cordon operation was launched in Ratnipora overnight. "As the cordon was tightened, the militants fired starting the encounter," an officer said.
As news about the gun battle spread, youth in the area engaged in clashes with the security forces to disrupt the operation.
Mobile Internet services in the district were suspended. Rail services between the Bannihal town of Jammu region and the Kashmir Valley have also been suspended for the day.
(With inputs from agencies)
