Two miliitants and a soldier were killed in a gunbattle between militants and security forces in north Kashmir's Handwara  area, 80km away from Srinagar. Around 7 pm on Monday, soldiers came under heavy fire during a combing operation at Haril Manzpora, 35km from Handwara town. The exchange of fire lasted whole night and a militant was killed early in the morning and another in the afternoon.

"Two unidentified militants were killed in the encounter carried out by the Handwara police and the army's 30 Rashtriya Rifles. An Army Jawan also lost his life in the encounter," said spokesman of the zonal headquarters in Srinagar.

The slain soldier has been identified as Sandeep Kumar.

Unconfirmed reports suggest two more soldiers were injured in the afternoon due to sniper shots from militants at a separate location, but in the vicinity of the encounter site. The army refused to confirm latest injuries.

Two AK 47 rifles and six AK magazines were recovered from the slain militants.