India’s home minister Amit Shah said the three men were Pakistani nationals and were killed in a joint operation by the military, paramilitary and police.

The government has faced criticism for being slow to catch the shooters who slaughtered 26 civilians and started clashes between India and Pakistan.

India has said its security forces killed three militants who shot dead 26 civilians near a tourist town in Indian-administered Kashmir in April, triggering a brief military conflict with Pakistan. Home Minister Amit Shah told parliament the men had been killed by Indian forces near the disputed region's main city Srinagar on Monday.