In this file picture from June 2018, Indian Army personnel take positions during an encounter with the militants in Keran Sector of Kupwara district of north Kashmir.

SRINAGAR: A militant was killed in an encounter with security forces in Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir today, the Army said.

"One militant has been killed in the ongoing encounter in the forest area of Kupwara district," an Army official said.

Security forces had launched an operation in the Kandi forest area of Kupwara yesterday after a patrol of Army soldiers came under fire from militants, the official said.

He said a gun battle broke out between the two sides in which one soldier was critically injured. The Jawan was evacuated to an Army hospital where he succumbed yesterday.

The operation was in progress when last reports came in, he added.