Srinagar
Three militants were killed and three security men injured in an 17-hour long gunfight that ended on Sunday here on the outskirts of Srinagar, officials said.

One of the slain militants has been identified as 14-year-old Mudassir Parrey of Hajin Bandipore. He had joined militant ranks in September. The other two have been identified as Saqib Bilal Sheikh, resident of Hajin, Bandipora, and Ali, a Pakistan national.

The three, according to police, were associated with Lashkar-e-Toiba. The gunfight broke around 5 pm on Saturday when joint teams of forces were carrying out a cordon and search operation at Mujagund, some 15 km from city centre along the Srinagar Bandipore highway

The exact identity of the slain militants was being ascertained.

Police sources said at least three security men were also injured during the gunfight.

At least two residential houses were also damaged during the operation as militants kept on changing locations during the counter-militant operation within the cordoned off area.