Forces launched a cordon and search operation in Ramban and Kishtwar districts to track down two militants who reportedly fled from the site of an encounter in the district two days ago.
Police said a top Hizbul Mujahideen 'commander', Osama, and his two associates, Zahid and Farooq, were gunned down in the encounter with security forces in Ramban on Saturday.
The militants were killed when they tried to escape from a house where they had sought refuge while being chased by security forces following a brief exchange of fire in Batote area along Jammu-Kishtwar national highway.
According to reports, two militants, Haroon Wani and Naveed, fled from the encounter site and are believed to be hiding in the area.
A cordon and search operation is being carried out by security forces and police to track down the terrorists in Batote hills, the officials said.
The operation is also being carried out at and around the encounter site, other places in Batote and adjoining areas, they added. A combing operation is also underway in Kishtwar to trace a militant commander.
National Investigation Agency, police and Army are engaged in a combing operation in Kishtwar to track down top militant commander, Mohammad Ameen alias Janagir Saroori, who was involved in many militant incidents in the district, the officials said.
Ameen, along with Osama, was involved in the sensational incident of killing of RSS functionary Chanderkant Sharma and his personal security officer on April 9. He was also involved in several incidents of weapon snatching, they said.
More than 43 overground workers (OGWs) have been detained and questioned in this direction, they added.
Director General of Jammu and Kashmir Police Dilbag Singh had on Sunday said Osama and his associates were trying to escape from Kishtwar towards Kashmir because of a crackdown launched by the police and the Central Armed Police Forces.