Three militants from terror outfit Hizbul Mujaheedin, including a top commander, were killed in a day-long encounter in Lassidaban village near Keller in south Kashmir's Pulwama district.

A senior police officer said troops of Rashtriya Rifles and the state police jointly surrounded a house in Lassidaban village earlier in the day, acting on 'actionable information' that a group of Hizbul Mujaheedin militants were hiding inside.

"The hiding militants were asked to surrender. Instead, they opened fire at the surrounding RR troops and the police. The forces returned the fire, triggering an encounter, at the end of which three militants were killed," the officer told rediff.com.

"Among those killed was Latief Tedwa, the divisional commander of the outfit who was  wanted in connection with several killings in south Kashmir," he added.

Arms and ammunition were recovered from the slain militants, the officer said.

The house in which the militants were holed up was destroyed during the gunfight.