A policeman was killed in an encounter that started on Saturday night between militants and security forces in south Kashmir's Tral.

The encounter began after a joint team of police and army started a cordon and search operation in Hafoo area of Tral in Pulwama district based on inputs about the presence of militants in the area.

An official at the police control room in Awantipora said the slain Jammu and Kashmir policeman, Manzoor Ahmed Naik was a native of Salamabad area of Uri.

Officials sources said special forces of army were deployed to carry out a combing operation in the area.
   
Curfew has been clamped in this area, 10 km from Srinagar, as protesters had gathered near the encounter site, they said.
   
Half of the house was brought down by the security forces but militants were still firing on them.