A missing youth who had apparently joined militant ranks was killed in a brief shootout with the government forces in North Kashmir’s Baramulla district.Yesterday, police had sought help from general public in tracing at least 7 missing youth from Baramulla district while the militant killed today was one among them.Police sources told Kashmir News Trust that government forces received inputs about the movement of militants in Shutloo Rafiabad area as a result a special checkpoint was created by joint forces including 32 Rashtriya Rifles, 92 Battalion CRPF and SOG in the area. A police official said that militants were intercepted and they resorted to indiscriminate firing. A militant was killed in retaliatory fire while searches were started to trace his associates who fled from the spot.The slain militant has been identified as Mudasir Ahmed Bhat son of Sonaullah Bhat, a resident of Shutloo Rafiabad.Large number of mourners participated in his funeral procession. Mudasir had gone missing last week from his native area. (KNT)