Srinagar: Nine militants and three Army personnel were killed in a fierce encounter in Baramulla district in North Kashmir today (Jan 17, 2004), officials said.

The slain militants belonged to Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad and Lashkar-e-Toiba, they said.

The encounter, lasting seven hours, ensued when security forces raided Bazapathri area in the district following specific information about presence of militants there, the officials said.