Security forces in Kashmir on Sunday killed three top militants, including the financial chief, of the frontline Hizbul Mujahideen and the divisional commander of Harkatul Mujahideen in two separate encounters.

A police spokesperson in Srinagar [Images] said Farooq Ahmad Dar alias Hanief Khan, the financial chief of the HM and his associate Javed Ahmed Malik were killed in an encounter with troops of the Rashtriya Rifles, Central Reserve Police Force and the special operations group of the police in Noorpora near Tral in south Kashmir's Pulwama district.

"The militants were asked to surrender, but they resorted to heavy gunfire at the surrounding security forces. The ensuing encounter ended late last evening in which both the financial chief of the Hizbul Mujahideen outfit and his associate were killed," the spokesperson said.

"One damaged AK-47 rifle, one Chinese pistol and four mobile sets were recovered from the encounter site," the spokesperson said.

In a separate incident, troops of the RR and SOG surrounded a house in the Shiva village near the apple-rich Sopore town on Sunday afternoon, and challenged a militant holed up inside.

"The lone militant opened fire at the troops which triggered an encounter, at the end of which, he was killed," a police spokesperson said. He identified the slain militant as Usman Kari, divisional commander of the HuM.