JK: 3 militants killed in separate encounters

Three militants were killed in two encounters in Kupwara district of Kashmir, officials said on Thursday.

Troops of 15 Rashtriya Rifles noted some suspicious movement in Esmali forests in Keran area, near the Line of Control, in Kupwara district last evening and asked the militants to surrender. However, they opened fire on the troops, who retaliated, triggering off a gunbattle, they said.

Two militants were killed in the encounter, the officials said, adding search operations were going on in the area. In another encounter, a militant was killed in Wudderbala forests in Zachaldara area of Kupwara last evening.

Meanwhile, an encounter broke out between militants and security forces at Putchal in Pulwama district of south Kashmir on Thursday morning.