Srinagar/UNI: Security forces have called off an operation in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama district as the militants who engaged forces in a brief gunfight managed to escape, officials said on Saturday.

The militants and the security forces exchanged fire in the early hours on Saturday at Mitrigam area of Pulwama during an anti militancy operation which was launched by joint forces after an input about the presence of militants.

"It appears the terrorists fled in the initial stages of the operation," a security official said.

"Searches were carried out for several hours later but no fresh contact was established."

He said the security forces called off the operation on Saturday.

This year, security forces have shot dead five militants in three gunfights this year.