Jammu/IBNS: An encounter broke out between the Army and terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir's Chatroo area on Wednesday, media reports said.

The encounter started when a joint team of the Army and Jammu and Kashmir police launched an operation to track down hiding terrorists in the mountainous region.

At least three terrorists are believed to be holed up in the cordoned area during a fierce gun battle.

The area has witnessed several encounters in the last year.

On May 22, a soldier was killed in action at the Chatroo area after the army launched an operation against terrorists.

Kishtwar is part of the Jammu administrative province, which is increasingly witnessing terrorist activities.

The region that was free from terrorism until a few years ago has become the biggest security challenge and a site of some of the major terrorist attacks in J&K.