Srinagar, Jul 9 (UNI) Militants on Friday managed to escape under the cover of darkness after a brief encounter with security forces in south Kashmir district of Kulgam, a police spokesman said.

He said on a tip-off about the presence of militants at village Redwani in Kulgam, troops of Rashtriya Rifles (RR), Special Operation Group (SOG) of Jammu and Kashmir police and CRPF launched a joint Cordon and Search Operation (CASO) in the wee hours.

While the security forces were ascertaining the exact location, the militants hiding there fired upon them ensuing a brief gunfight.
However, taking advantage of darkness and thick foliage the militants manage to flee, he said.

This was the third operation during the past 36 hours in south Kashmir, where four militants were killed by security forces.
Earlier a top Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) commander was killed by security forces on July 7.
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