Srinagar: One militant has been killed even as a fresh exchange of firing resumed near the encounter site at Hapatnar in  Charar-e-Shareef area of central Kashmir’s Budgam district on Monday late afternoon.

Official sources said that one militant has been killed in the gunfight at Hapatnar.

“As the joint team of forces tried to retrieve the body of the slain militant lying near hideout, the hiding militants opened fire upon the troops resulted into a fresh exchange of firing”.

A police officer also confirmed the killing of the militant and said that the operation is still going on.

Earlier, the officer said that the government forces have also blasted the hideout of the militants in the mountainous area, covered under plenty of snow.

The officer said that earlier, a joint team of army’s 53 RR, SOG and CRPF launched a cordon-and-search operation following a “credible inputs” about the presence of two to three militants hiding in the hideout. (GNS)