A 72-hour-long gunbattle in the woods in Machil sector in north Kashmir ended on Sunday, official sources said.

They said fourteen militants and three soldiers, including a commanding officer, were killed in the clash.

Sources said the operation was stopped on Saturday night due to darkness.

However, with the first light early on Sunday morning, troops launched a fresh operation. As the troops were marching ahead, militants opened fire.

The troops also retaliated and in the fierce clash two more militants were killed.

Till Saturday night, 12 militants and three soldiers were killed and four soldiers were wounded in the encounter which started on Thursday evening.

This was the longest operation during this year in north Kashmir.