Srinagar/UNI: Security forces shot dead a militant in an encounter that raged in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district on Thursday evening, police said.

The encounter broke out during a cordon and a search operation which was launched by joint forces in Arihal village of Pulwama following an input about militant presence.

"During the search operation, as the joint search party approached towards the suspected spot, the hiding terrorists fired indiscriminately upon them, which was retaliated effectively leading to an encounter. In the encounter one terrorist has been killed," a police officer said, adding that a search operation in the area is still underway.

The identity and group affiliation could not be established immediately.