Srinagar, Nov 20  A gunbattle broke out on Friday between security forces and hiding militants in the densely forested Wanigah area of Kupwara district in north Kashmir, police said.

 
"The gunfight started after the killing of Colonel Santosh Mahadik in the same area in a gunfight with the militants," a senior police official told IANS in Srinagar.
 
"Security forces cordoned off the forest area, deploying para commandos and helicopters to ensure the hiding militants do not escape," the official said.