Security forces had laid an ambush last night in Kalaroos area of Kupwara following an information about movement of militants in the area, an Army official said here today.
He said contact with the group of militants was established this morning and they were asked to surrender.
"However, the ultras opened firing towards security forces' positions, which was retaliated, resulting in a gunbattle that lasted several hours," the official said.
He said a search operation was carried out after the gun fire stopped and bodies of four militants were recovered.
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An Army soldier - Naik Neeraj Kumar Singh - sustained grievous injuries during the operation and was airlifted to 92 Base Hospital Srinagar, where he succumbed, the official said.
The official said the militants were believed to be affiliated to LeT.
According to an Army spokesman it was not yet clear whether the militants were infiltrating from or exfiltrating to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
"It can be ascertained only after analysing the recoveries affected from the slain terrorists," he said.
In another operation in Keran sector, a jawan was killed in a brief gunbattle with militants late last night.