Three security force officers, including an army colonel, a major and a deputy superintendent were killed in a gunfight with terrorists in Kokernag area in the Anantnag district of Kashmir. An encounter started this morning amid a hunt for terrorists hiding in Gadole area, officials said on Wednesday.

The banned Resistance Front, believed to be a shadow group of LeT, has claimed responsibility, according to a PTI report.

Colonel Manpreet Singh, Major Ashish, DSP of Jammu and Kashmir Police Humayun Bhat were critically injured in the gunfight and airlifted to Srinagar. However, they?died in treatment, officials said.

Colonel Singh, leading his team from the front, attacked the terrorists. However, the terrorists fired upon him and he was critically injured, later died. Bhat died due to heavy blood loss, officials said.

The operation against the terrorists began on Tuesday evening but was called off during the night. This morning, the hunt for the terrorists resumed after information started trickling that they were spotted at a hideout, the officials told PTI.?