JAMMU: Security forces killed a militant in the wee hours of Saturday after a two-hour-long gunbattle in Thanala area of Doda district, official sources said.

The encounter between militants and security forces started around 3.00 am and continued till 5.00 am this morning at Thanala area of Doda, they said. The slain militant was identified as Imtiyaz Ahmed.

Ahmed's associates managed to escape from the scene, they said adding that one AK-47 rifle and two Chinese grenades were recovered from him.

 It was not immediately known to which militant outfit Ahmed belongs to.

Ahmed, a local militant of Thanala, has been active in Doda for several years and was involved in many attacks on security forces.