A jawan of the Army and two militants were killed and a junior officer was injured in a gun battle in Ganderbal district on Friday, official sources said.

Based on information about a militant hideout, troops of Jammu and Kashmir [Images] Light Infantry and police launched a joint search operation at Kachpathri-Mawar in Kangan area on the Srinagar-Leh National Highway.

The militants opened fire on the forces and in the ensued encounter, which lasted for several hours, two militants and jawan Anil Kumar were killed.

The identity of the militant group is yet to be established, the sources said. The injured JCO, Anchal Singh, was moved to the Army base hospital in Srinagar [Images], sources added.