SRINAGAR, Indian-controlled Kashmir, Sept. 15 (Xinhua) -- Three militants have been killed Saturday in an ongoing gunfight in restive Indian-controlled Kashmir, police said.

The gunfight broke out in village Chowgam-Qazigund in Kulgam district, about 72 km south of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir.

"There is gunfight going on in Chowgam," a police spokesman said. "Five militants are trapped and so far three have been reported to be killed."

According to police, the gunfight was triggered early Saturday after joint contingents of police and army cordoned off a locality on specific intelligence information suggesting presence of militants.

The identity of the killed militants could not be ascertained as bodies were yet to be retrieved.

"The operation is underway," the police spokesman said.

A guerilla war is going on between militants and Indian troopers stationed in the region since 1989.

Kashmir, the Himalayan region divided between India and Pakistan, is claimed by both in full. Since their independence from Britain, the two countries have fought three wars, two exclusively over Kashmir.