SRINAGAR: Three militants were today killed in an encounter with security forces in Handwara area of north Kashmir, police said here.

Director General of Police (DGP) S P Vaid said the slain militants were apparently Pakistanis .

Security forces launched a cordon and search operation in the early hours in Unisoo village of Handwara following specific intelligence inputs about the presence of militants in the area, a police official said.

He said the search operation turned into an encounter as the hiding militants fired upon the forces conducting the searches.

During the gunfight, three militants were killed, the official said..