Jammu: A militant, who is believed to have escaped during the major gunbattle with security forces in Samba district, was today shot dead.

Army troops cordoned off Ding Ambh area in the district after locals spotted movement of a person and launched a search operation.

A gunbattle soon broke out in which the militant was killed, official sources said.

The militant is believed to have escaped after yesterday's Kaili Mandi gunbattle in which eight persons, including two militants and a photojournalist, were killed and 15 others injured.

An ak rifle, grenades, a pistol and explosive material were recovered from him, they said adding one more militant has been spotted in the nearby forest area and the operation is still on.

The slain militant was part of the group of militants who infiltrated after the fire fight between militants and BSF troops on Benglard border outpost on Indo-Pak border on Friday last, they said.

Source : PTI