Srinagar, Mar 21 (UNI) With the first light on Wednesday morning, security forces resumed operation in the forest area of frontier Kashmir district of Kupwara, where four militants were reportedly killed in an encounter.

However, the bodies of the militants have not been recovered so far.

'The search operation by security forces was suspended on Tuesday night due to darkness only to be resumed with the first light this morning in the woods in Halmatpora in Kupwara,' official sources said.

Despite bad weather, security forces have sealed the entire forest area to foil any attempt by the militants to escape, they said.

Following specific information about presence of militants in Halmatpora check forests, a joint search operation was launched by Special Operations Group (SOG) of Jammu and Kashmir Police, Army and CRPF in the area.

However, when security forces were moving towards a particular area in the forest, the militants hiding there, fired at them with automatic weapons. Security forces also retaliated, ensuing in an encounter, they said.

Four militants were killed on Tuesday in the exchange of fire, the Defence Ministry spokesperson told UNI.

However, a police official of Kupwara, when contacted, said that he cannot confirm the killings as no body has been recovered so far from the forest area.

The sources said security forces have also launched a search operation in the adjacent forests, including Gulgam and Awoora, which are connected to Halmathpora forest.
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