Three Hizbul Mujahideen militants were killed today in an encounter with security forces in Jammu and Kashmir's Shopian district. The District Superintendent of Police, Shahid Mehraj said that acting on credible inputs about presence of militants, a joint team of securitymen launched a cordon-and-search operation at Chewan in Keller area of Shopian district. The militants were asked to surrender but they opened indiscriminate firing at the security forces, who retaliated, triggering-off a fierce gun battle. All the three militants hiding in the area were killed this morning. Officials said, the militants were affiliated to Hizbul Mujahideen outfit.