Srinagar, Nov 16 (IANS): Jammu and Kashmir police on Thursday said they arrested three militants during a gunfight in Kulgam district which left a soldier dead.

Addressing a joint press conference along with officers of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Inspector General of Police Muneer Khan said: "In the ongoing operation against militants in Kund area, we have arrested three local militants."

He said one of them, Atta Muhammad Malik, was caught in an injured condition. "He would have died if we hadn't shifted him to a hospital where he is now said to be out of danger."

Khan said the security forces had launched the joint operation in Kund on Tuesday after intelligence inputs about the presence of a big group of militants of the Lashkar-e-Taiba and Hizbul Mujahideen there.

"A militant, Muzamil, and a soldier were killed on the first day of the encounter," Khan said.

"Even if a local militant raises his hands during an encounter, we will help him to return to his home and lead a normal life," he said.