Launching a joint combing operation, security forces on Monday shot dead one more terrorist, believed to have escaped during the gun-battle in the Samba area, after a fierce encounter near an army formation.
 
Acting on information provided by some villagers about heavily armed terrorists in army uniforms roaming close to the formation in the Ding Ambh region in Samba district, troops cordoned off the area at around 7 am, defence sources said.
    
Ding Ambh area is 3 km from the spot of the Kaili Mandi gun-battle on Sunday in which eight persons, including a photo journalist and two terrorists, were killed and 15 others injured. One terrorist is believed to have escaped during Sunday's encounter.
 
The heavily armed terrorist fired on the troops who were conducting the search operation, sources said adding that the encounter continued till 9.20 am.
    
The arms recovered from the body of the slain militant, include one AK rifle, one Under Barrel Grenade Launcher, 23 grenades, 12 UBGL grenades and 10 AK magazines, sources said.

Security forces have intercepted a message exchanged among terrorists which revealed that the slain terrorists belonged to a new outfit called Al-Meran.

The search operation is continuing and security forces are still looking for another terrorist who was seen in the forest belt nearby.

The slain terrorists were suspected to be part of the group which infiltrated into India after a fire fight with the Border Security Force at Benglard border outpost on the Indo-Pak border on Friday.