SRINAGAR: Three Hizbul Mujahideen militants were killed in an overnight encounter in Tral area of South Kashmir's Pulwama district, an army official said today.
Security forces launched a cordon and search operation in Dadsara area of Tral last night, following information about the presence of militants there, the official said.
"Following a specific information that a group of militants was hiding in Mir Mohalla (Dadsara) village near Tral town of Pulwama district, security forces surrounded the area on Wednesday evening. As forces closed on the house where the militants were hiding, they came under heavy firing," a senior police officer told IANS.
The official said in the ensuing gun fight three local militants of Hizbul Mujahideen were killed.
The slain militants have been identified as Ashiq Hussain Bhat, Mohammad Isaq Parray and Asif Ahmed Mir, the official said, adding that Bhat was involved in providing shelter to militants involved in Udhampur attack on a BSF convoy last year.
Three AK rifles have been recovered from the scene of the gun battle, where search and sanitisation operation are in progress, the official said.
Clashes had started in the area between stone pelting protesters and the security forces immediately after the news about the gunfight spread in the area late on Wednesday.
(With inputs from PTI & IANS)