Srinagar, Jun 27 (KNS): A militant was on Wednesday morning killed in a gunfight with the government forces in Branpatri forest area in south Kashmir’s Tral town, Police said.

A police official said “on a credible input, a cordon and search operation was launched jointly by police and army in Branpatri, forest area of Tral in Awantipora” adding that “during the search operation, hiding militants fired on the search party. The fire was retaliated that triggered a gunfight,” he said.

“In the ensuing encounter, one militant was killed and the body was retrieved from the site of encounter. The identity and affiliation of the slain militant is being ascertained,” the official said, adding that “incriminating material including arms and ammunition has been recovered from the site of encounter.”

“Pertinently with the efforts of Police and security forces, it was a clean operation. No collateral damage happened during the encounter,” said the official in a statement which appealed citizens not to venture inside the encounter zone since such an area can prove dangerous due to stray explosive materials”. (KNS)