Terrorists, security forces engage in Poonch

A gunbattle broke out on Thursday between a group of terrorists and security forces inside a forest in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir, police officials said in Jammu.

The encounter erupted when a joint team of army troops, police and CRPF, on a tip-off about the presence five terrorists, cordoned off an area at Harni forest in Mendhar tehsil at around 1955 hours.

Realising that they were cornered, the terrorists opened fire, drawing retaliation from the security forces.

There was no immediate report of any casualty.

Additional security men have been sent to lay a siege of the area in a bid to prevent terrorist from escaping, police officials said.