However, the fleeing terrorist’s hideout was busted and a cache of weapons and ammunitions besides other recoveries were effected, official sources informed.

But the area continues to be cordoned off, sources informed adding that the search operations to locate the terrorists are still on.

Sources stated that specific information was received about presence of the Lashkar and the HM militants in Dudu area of Udhampur, who were stated to be about four to five in numbers.

A joint search operation was launched by the Jammu and Kashmir Police along with army troops in Seojdhar forests in Dudu area of Udhampur district, sources stated.

Sources said that sustained combing operation was taken up inside the Seojdhar forest, but there were no contacts for two days.

The contact with the terrorists could be established by late Friday evening, sources informed adding that the terrorists resorted to firing on the operation party, which was retaliated by the security forces.

Sources informed that the two sides engaged in firing which continued for a couple of hours in the night, however, then, the guns from the other side fell silent.

The forest area was combed today by the joint operation, during which their hideout was traced out, sources informed.

The hideout was busted and a huge cache of arms and ammunitions were recovered by the operation party.

The recovery included one AK 56 rifle with one magazine, one 303 rifle with one magazine, one binocular, one Chinese grenade, 36 shells, two solar charges, besides 110 kgs of ration and blankets and other household items, sources informed.

The explosives and ration were destroyed by the operation party on the spot, sources stated.

Sub Divisional Police Officer (SDPO), Ramnagar, who led the police party during the operation, said that the searches were still on to find out the terrorists, and another party has been dispatched to the area.

However, the operation was getting difficult in view of the inclement weather conditions, as the terrorist hideout was located in the higher reaches of Seojdhar forests, and the higher reaches were lashed with about three to four feet of snowfall.