Srinagar: At least 15 people, including 12 guerrillas and three soldiers, were killed in a fierce gunfight near the de facto India-Pakistan border in the Kashmir valley, defence sources said Saturday.

The exchange of fire started late Thursday evening when the soldiers intercepted a group of heavily armed guerrillas who had crossed into the Indian side of the Line of control (LoC) in north Kashmir's Machil sector of Kupwara district.

"So far, 15 people including twelve terrorists, a colonel and two soldiers of the army have been killed in this encounter which is still on," the sources told IANS here.

The sources also said a massive mopping operation was on in the area even as firing between the security forces and the guerrillas was on.

The encounter has been on for more than 36 hours now.

Source : IANS