Srinagar: Three Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists were killed in an encounter with security forces in Jammu and Kashmir's Shopian district on Tuesday, police said.

The security forces launched a cordon-and-search operation in Shopian's Nagbal following information about the presence of terrorists there, a police official said.

He said the search operation turned into an encounter, in which the three ultras were gunned down.

The terrorists were affiliated with proscribed terror outfit LeT, a police spokesperson said, adding that the search operation was in progress.

"The 3 killed #terrorists have been identified as local terrorists of LeT namely Danish Khursheed Bhat, Tanveer Wani, and Towseef Bhat. They were involved in several #terror crime cases. Terrorist Danish was involved in #recruitment of youth into terror ranks in Shopian," Additional Director General of Police (ADGP), Kashmir Vijay Kumar said in a tweet.

Sh. Vijay Kumar, IPS (ADGP), Kashmir Zone said, "By targeting innocent civilians including women & kids, unarmed policemen & outside laborers, terrorists can’t deter our efforts to bring peace in the valley. Our CT operations will continue simultaneously in all 3 regions of Kashmir, especially against foreign terrorists."

Earlier on Aug 29, two drug peddlers namely Mudasir Ahmad Shah, an employee in the Education department, and Esar Ahmad Shah, both residents of Dardpora Lolab arrested along with 450 bottles of banned drug Codeine by PS Lalpora.

One Notorious thief namely Faisal Ahmad Najar @ Ran Kon S/o Ghulam Najar of Chattabal who was evading his arrest has been arrested in one theft case today, the stolen vehicle Piaggio has also been recovered from him. An investigation is underway and more recoveries are expected. 

Also, a self-styled fake peer namely Maqsood shah S/o Asadullah R/o Batsuma, Baramulla arrested along with his two accomplices by kothibagh PS. They had fraudulently stolen golden items & cash from an elderly lady before dropping her near Panthachowk. The car used in the crime was also seized.