Defence Ministry spokesperson Colonel Rajesh Kalia told UNI that following specific information about presence of militants, a joint CASO was launched by Army, CRPF and Special Operations Group (SOG) of J&K police at Turkawangam in Shopian in the wee hours on Tuesday.
However, he said when security forces were moving towards a particular area, militants hiding there, fired at them with automatic weapons.
"The security forces retaliate, ensuing in an encounter," he said, adding three militants were killed in the exchange of fire.
