Security forces engaged with a group of terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir's Shopian district on Saturday, with reports saying that a terrorist was gunned down while two army soldiers laid down their lives.
Reports said that the police, army and the Central Reserve Police Force launched a search operation after receiving inputs about the presence of ultras in Chirmarg village of the volatile south Kashmir district.
As the forces came close to the suspected spot, the hiding ultras opened a barrage of fire which was returned. In the initial round of firing an ultra and two soldiers died while another army trooper was injured.
A defence ministry spokesperson based in Srinagar identified the slain soldiers as Santosh Yadav and Chavan Romit Tanaji, both from the Rashtriya Rifles unit.
This is the 15th encounter between security forces and terrorists in Kashmir valley since the beginning of this year.