Encounter breaks out in J&K's Shopian

An encounter broke out between security forces and militants in Shopian district of Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday, police said.

The security forces launched a search and cordon operation in the Shirmal area of south Kashmir's Shopian after receiving specific inputs about the presence of militants there, a police official said.

He said the search operation turned into an encounter after the militants fired at a search party of the forces, who retaliated.

The exchange of fire is underway. So far, there are no reports of any casualty on either side, the official said.