Three militants were killed in an exchange of fire with security forces in Jammu and Kashmir's [Images] Pulwama district on Tuesday morning, a defence spokesman said.

Acting on intelligence inputs that some militants were hiding at Shermal, 40 km from Srinagar [Images], the army launched search operation around 0200 IST, the spokesman said.

He said around 0600 IST some people tried to break the cordon and escape. The army troops challenged them, and in the ensuing gun battle three militants were killed.

The identity of the slain militants and their group affiliation was being ascertained, he said. Two AK rifles and a carbine were recovered from them, he added.