Srinagar, May 12: The militants who were engaged in a gunfight with joint team of police and army in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district have escaped from the encounter site, officials said on Thursday.

They said that there was no further exchange of fire following “initial firefight” near Marhama area of Bijbhera in the district. “The militants it seems escaped in the initial phase taking advantage of darkness,” a senior officer said

He said that “operation” was called off late last night itself after there was no fresh contact the militants.

The encounter had erupted on Wednesday late in the afternoon after the joint team launched a joint cordon-and-search-operation of the area based on a specific input about the presence of militants.

As the joint team approached towards the suspected spot, the hiding militants fired upon at them forces, triggering off the gunfight. gns