A militant and a soldier were killed on Tuesday in a fierce gunbattle in Handwara area of north Kashmir's Kupwara district.   Troops of 30 Rashtriya Rifles and police launched a cordon and search operation in Haril village of Handwara, 100 kms from here, following information about presence of militants there, police said.

A gunfight broke out between the security forces and the militants, in which one ultra was killed while one soldier also laid down his life, they said.

Search operations were on in the area.