Jammu (PTI) A fierce gunbattle broke out between security forces and two militants on Saturday evening in Rajouri district but the ultras managed to escape in the cover of darkness, official sources said on Sunday.

A joint team of police and Rashtriya Rifles on Saturday launched a search operation in the remote Neeli village under Thannamandi tehsil based on specific information on presence of militants there, the sources said.

The militants, on seeing the patrol party, opened fire which was retaliated by the security forces, triggering a fierce encounter.

However, the two ultras, managed to escape under the cover of darkness, they said, adding a search operation to track them down is on.

The security forces recovered some arms and ammunitions left behind by the fleeing militants from the spot, the sources said.

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