Monday, March 14 2005 13:57 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Srinagar: Militants today (Mar 14, 2005) attacked a Rashtriya Rifles search party in Baramulla district of Jammu and Kashmir, triggering a fierce gun battle between the two sides, official sources said.

The militants, whose number was not known, fired indiscriminately on the search party at Zandpaul village in Kunzer, about 35 km from Srinagar, in the wee hours today, they said.

The troops fired back and a fierce gun battle was going on between the two sides when reports last came in, the sources said adding casualties on either side were not known.

Following specific information, the troops of Rashtriya Rifles had laid a cordon around the village late last night to flush out militants hiding there, they said.