Defence spokesman, Hemant Juneja said troops of 14 RR started a cordon and search operation in the north Kashmir Sumlar village near the Bandipora town, 46 km from Srinagar early Tuesday.
"As the troops surrounded a house in the Sumlar village they came under heavy automatic gun fire from the hiding militants. One captain of the 14 RR was killed on the spot. Additional deployments have already been rushed to the spot and the encounter is still going on," Colonel Juneja said.
Reports reaching Srinagar from the encounter site indicated a heavy exchange of fire between the militants and the security forces.