Indian army said Sunday it had killed three militants in a fierce gunfight while foiling an infiltration attempt on the line-of- control (LoC) in Indian-controlled Kashmir.

The intrusion was thwarted late Saturday in Nowgam sector of frontier district of Kupwara close to LoC, around 120 km northwest of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir.

"Three militants were killed in a gunfight near LoC after alert troopers spotted a group of militants in Nowgam sector," said Col. Naresh Vij, Indian army spokesman. "The gunfight was triggered after militants trying to sneak in our territory fired on the troopers deployed there."

Indian soldiers have not suffered any casualties in the gunfight, army officials said.

Indian army also claimed recovery of ammunition from the site. However, the identity of slain militants and their group affiliation was not known immediately.

"The remaining militants are believed to have returned to other side (of the border)," said Vij. "The Indian Army troopers have intensified searches in the area."

Kashmir is divided between India and Pakistan by LoC, a de facto border.

A guerrilla war has been fighting between militants and the Indian troops stationed in Indian-controlled Kashmir since 1989 to crack down on a strong separatist movement seeking end to New Delhi's rule in the region.