Srinagar, Sep 2 (IANS): The gunbattle between security forces and separatist guerrillas that broke out Monday night in Pulwama district in south Kashmir has ended as all three militants have been killed, police said Tuesday.

A senior police officer told IANS here that,"Three militants belonging to Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM) outfit have been killed in the Hajanbala (Rajpora) encounter between the security forces and holed up militants.

"The bodies of all the three slain militants have been recovered. One AK-47 rifle and a self-loading rifle (SLR) have been recovered from the encounter site".

The identity of the slain guerrillas is being established although police confirmed they belonged to JeM.

The security forces had cordoned off a house in Hajanbala village in Pulwama Monday night after getting information that three militants were hiding inside, a senior police official told IANS.

"When the militants were asked to surrender, they started firing at the security forces who retaliated," the official said.