The operation was launched on Sunday in Sonnar village near Mandral-Singhpora in the Chatroo belt, triggering a gunfight in which one paratrooper was killed and seven other soldiers were injured.
Officials said a fresh contact was established with the holed-up terrorists in the dense forests of Singhpora on Monday morning. Heavy firing between the two sides was underway when last reports were received, and efforts are on to neutralise the terrorists operating in the area.
Meanwhile, a major terrorist hideout was unearthed near the encounter site, and several individuals were detained for questioning, officials added.
A group of two to three terrorists, believed to be affiliated with the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), are suspected to be trapped in the ongoing encounter, officials said. (Agencies)
