Tension gripped the north Kashmir apple-rich Sopore town as security forces surrounded a hotel there in which militants took refuge after attacking a Central Reserve Police Force party in the town.

Police in Srinagar said militants attacked a CRPF party in the Sopore town square on Thursday afternoon resulting in injuries to one trooper who was evacuated to Srinagar for treatment.

"After firing at the security forces, the militants entered a nearby hotel which we have now surrounded. Firing exchanges are going on. Additional CRPF and police reinforcements have been rushed to the area," a senior CRPF officer told rediff.com in Srinagar.

"We are trying to clear the area first before we launch the operation to flush out the militants. We don't want any civilian casualities," he said.

Tension in the town is high.