Srinagar: Three army men and two policemen and five militants were killed in the ongoing encounter in forest area of border district of Kupwara in Jammu and Kashmir.

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir S P Pani told New Indian Express that the gunfight between militants and security forces continued for second day in the forest area of Halmatpura in border district of Kupwara today.

The gunfight started on Tuesday afternoon after militants fired on the joint party of police and army men, who were conducting combing and search operation in the forest area after receiving inputs about presence of militants there.

Pani said two policemen were killed and a Special Police Officer injured in the gunfight today.

He said two militants were also killed today while three died in the gunfight yesterday.

He said the combing operation in the area was going on.

The deceased policemen were identified as Mohammad  Yousuf Cheche of Kachama, Kupwara and Deepak Thesoo of Nagrota, Jammu.

Defence spokesman in Srinagar, Colonel Rajesh Kalia said three soldiers were also killed in the two-day long gunfight.