In a major setback for the terrorist group Hizbul Mujahideen, 3 of its men were killed in an overnight encounter with security forces near Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir’s Anantnag district.

Acting on specific intelligence input about the presence of militants in a village, security forces yesterday launched a search operation in the area.

An encounter that broke out on Sunday resumed this morning to locate the militants. The terrorists holed up inside a house in south Kashmir’s Awoora village in Pahalgam area. Police believed that they were local residents.

The bodies of the terrorists were recovered from the village on Monday morning. According to ANI news agency, three AK -47 rifles and other arms and ammunition have also been recovered from the terrorists.

Special Operations Group of police cordoned off Gujerbasti area of Awoora in Pahalgam- a famous health resort at around 4.30PM and started combing operation to track down the suspected militants.

The hiding terrorists open fired at the security men while they were conducting search operations, ensued an encounter. The exchange of fire went on till late in the evening after which it was halted for the night, the official said, adding it was resumed in the wee hours today.