Srinagar, Apr 21 (PTI) An encounter broke out between militants and security forces in Jammu and Kashmir's Shopian district on Tuesday, an official said here.

The security forces had launched a cordon-and-search operation in the Melhora area of Shopian district, following information about the presence of militants there, a police official said.

He said the search operation turned into an encounter after the militants opened fire towards the security forces' positions.

The security forces retaliated, triggering a gunbattle that was going on when the last reports came in, the official said.

He said two to three militants were believed to be trapped inside the area cordoned off.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)