Srinagar, Jul 27 (IANS): A soldier and two militants were killed in two separate incidents involving the security forces and terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir's Shopian and Kupwara districts on Saturday, police said.

Security forces started a cordon and search operation in Bonbazar area of Shopian town early on Saturday after receiving information about the presence of militants there.

"As the cordon around the hiding militants was tightened, they fired at the security forces triggering an encounter in which two militants were killed," police said.

"The exact identify and group affiliation of the slain militants is being ascertained, they added.

An army official said a cache of weapons and war-like stores were recovered from the spot, where the operation is still under progress.

In another unrelated incident on Saturday morning, Lance Naik Rajender Singh of 57 Rashtriya Rifles was killed in a ceasefire violation by Pakistan on the Line of Control in Machil sector of Kupwara district.

"Lance Naik Rajender Singh suffered critical injuries in unprovoked Pakistan firing. He was taken to a nearby medical facility, but he succumbed to critical injuries," sources said.