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Srinagar: Three local militants were killed by goverenment forces including army, police and CRPF, in an encounter which ensued during a Cordon and Search Operation (CASO) in south Kashmir district of Shopian in the wee hours on Thursday, official sources said.

The internet mobile service has been suspended in parts of south Kashmir as a precautionary measure to prevent rumours.

Meanwhile, operation was resumed with the first light this morning in Kulgam, where several persons were injured, two of them with bullet wounds, when security forces and state police personnel opened fire and pellets to disperse demonstrators last evening.

They said on a tip off about the presence of militants in Yarwan in snowbound Keller forest, troops of Rashtriya Rifles (RR), Special Operation Group (SOG) of Jammu and Kashmir police and CRPF launched a joint Cordon and Search Operation (CASO) in the wee hours today.

Forces, marching towards particular area in the forest, came under heavy fire from militants hiding there, they said, adding that the fire was returned, ensuing in an encounter.

Three militants were killed in the encounter, they said adding the bodies of all the militants were recovered from the snow-bound forest. The operation was still going on when the reports last came in. The militants are reportedly from Pulwama district.

Three militants were identified as Aaqib Ahmad from Bhatnoora Lassipora Pulwama, Basharat Ahmad from Wasoora Pulwama and sajad Khanday from Bamnoo Keller Shopian.

Forces also launched a CASO in village Razloo Qazigund in Kulgam district on Thursday morning following a tip off about the presence of militants.

They said all exit points were sealed and house-to-house searches launched by the security forces. No contact has been established with the militants, they said, adding that the operation was going on when the reports last came in.