Security personnel at the encounter site near a CRPF camp in Srinagar where an attack by two militants was foiled. REUTERS/Danish Ismail

One CRPF jawan was killed following a failed attempt to attack a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) camp in Srinagar's Karan Nagar early morning today.

The attack was thwarted after an alert sentry at the CRPF's 23 battalion headquarters in Karan Nagar saw two suspected terrorists approaching the camp at around 4.30 am and opened fire.

The two, who were armed with AK-47 rifles, initially fled from the spot but were later cornered by security forces who engaged the terrorists in a gun battle.

A CRPF constable was injured in the encounter and later succumbed to his wounds. The Lashkar-e-Taiba was reported to have claimed responsibility for the failed attack on the CRPF camp and admitted that its men were engaged in an encounter with security forces.

Ravideep Sahai, the Inspector of General of the CRPF, told news agency ANI that the militants had managed to sneak inside a building close to the headquarters and that five families have been evacuated from the area.

Shesh Paul Vaid, the Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police, said on Twitter that the CRPF sentry had foiled a "suicidal attack".

I congratulate alert CRPF sentry for averting Suicidal attack in Karan nagar Srinagar. Fortunately 2 terrorists are in cordon & exchange of fire going on. Shesh Paul Vaid (@spvaid) February 12, 2018

As of last updating this report, the encounter between the militants and security forces continued with reports coming in of intermittent fire being exchanged by the two sides.

Earlier, CRPF IG Shahi told India Today, "Our alert sentry foiled an attempt by two militants... we have called our quick reaction team and a team from jammu kashmir police are on task near the camp periphery. No fire came in from militant side, who disappeares (sic) into dark alleys."

Jammu & Kashmir: Latest #Visuals from Srinagar's Karan Nagar where an encounter is underway at a CRPF camp ( Visuals deferred by unspecified time) pic.twitter.com/klOw6GVs4W ANI (@ANI) February 12, 2018

Incidentally, the CRPF 23 battalion headquarters is located just a few paces away from Srinagar's Shri Maharaja Hari Singh Hospital where last week a Pakistani terrorist - Naveed Jat alias Abu Hunzullah - successfully escaped from police custody.

The camp also houses the CRPF's intelligence wing and today's possible attack comes just two days after suspected Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorists attacked the Sunjwan Indian Army base in Jammu. Combing operations are on at the Sunjwan base, where five soldiers and a civilian, along with three terrorists, were killed.

(With inputs from agencies and India Today TV's Srinagar bureau)

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