Srinagar, May 15 (UNI) Security forces shot dead three militants in an encounter in Awantipora sub-district of South Kashmir.

Police said a gun battle erupted in the early hours on Thursday at Nader Tral during a cordon and a search operation which was launched following an input about militant presence.

"In the encounter three terrorists were killed,"a senior police officer said. "The comboing operation is going on."

The identities and the group affiliation of the three could not be established immediately.

Earlier, in a post on X, police said an encounter broke out at Nader, Tral area of Awantipora.

This is the second gunbattle in South Kashmir since Tuesday. On May 13, three local militants of Lashkar-e-Taiba were killed in an encounter with security forces in Shopian district. The slain also included Shahid Kuttay, a local commander of the Lashkar.

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