Top commander among three militants killed in north Kashmir

SRINAGAR: At least three militants are believed to have died in a fierce encounter that started in a north Kashmir village in the afternoon. The slain included a top militant commander.

A police spokesman said they launched a cordon and search operation in Dooru village of Sopore. "It was based on human intelligence and we knew there were militants," a police spokesman said. "As we were enforcing the cordon, there was firing and the contact was established."

Police refuses to confirm the deaths on record saying the operation is still on. But sources said three militants are dead. "We will identify the slain and let you know," the spokesman said.

The encounter is still in progress and police is accompanied by the local army unit from Rashtriya Rifles.

Winter usually witnesses mortality of militants going up because the fall in temperature forces them out of their jungle dens. As they take refuge in civilian areas, the counter-insurgency grid is always on a lookout.