GOPALPORA: An encounter broke out between security forces and terrorists in Gopalpora area of Kulgam district of Jammu and Kashmir in the wee hours of Wednesday. An official said a joint team of the Army, police, and CRPF encircled Gopalpora area and zeroed in on hiding militants, triggering an encounter.

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As the joint team of forces intensified the searches and fired some warning shots towards the suspected spot, the militants hiding inside opened fire leading to a gunfight, they said. The cordon-and-search operation was launched after the security forces received specific inputs that some terrorists were hiding in the area. Preliminary reports suggest one militant has been killed. However, the police said it has not retrieved any body so far and was ascertaining details about the affiliation of the militants trapped.

Sources said that 2-3 terrorists are believed to be hiding in the area. The encounter started after the terrorists opened fire at security forces, said a police official. The exchange of fire was ongoing when the last reports came in. Meanwhile, authorities have suspended the mobile Internet service in Kulgam district. "The operation is on," said the police.

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