At least two soldiers and nine infiltrators were reported killed in a fierce gunbattle in Jammu and Kashmir.

The encounter, which started in the forests of Baramulla, north Kashmir, against a group of infiltrating terrorists, lasted for 38 hours.

Two majors, K P Vinay and D R Raman, were reportedly killed in the initial stages of the fighting as more troops were rushed in.

The bodies of the fallen officers have been taken away by helicopter. At least four jawans have been injured.

Army spokesman Lt Col AK Mathur, said at least five suspected militants were holed up in the village and the gunbattle ended on Wednesday afternoon.

The army had cordoned off the village following a tip that militants were in the area when troops came under attack, he said.

One officer was killed immediately while four soldiers including an officer and a civilian were wounded in the fierce gunfight that followed, Mathur said.

The injured soldiers were evacuated in a helicopter to Srinagar's army hospital where the officer succumbed.

Police said that they recovered the bodies of nine suspected Islamic rebels after the gunbattle ended.

No civilians were killed in the firing even though eight houses were damaged, Viplav Kumar, a senior superintendent of police said.

The last such gunbattle took place in early August where the Indian army said they killed eight suspected Lashkar-e-Tayyaba militants and lost a colonel and a soldier. (With AP inputs)