A top Hizbul Mujahideen terroristalong with two others was shot dead in Ramban district of Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday.However, an Army soldier also lost his life, while rescuing a hostage in thenine-hour-long standoff.

"We have killed three terroristsin the gunfight, which has ended. One soldier was also killed in action," DevenderAnand, Army spokesperson in Jammu told media. The martyred Army soldier wasidentified as Naik Rajendra Singh from Jaisalmer.

The dreaded terrorists wereidentified as Osama, Zahid and Farooq. Osama was the mastermind behind thekillings of BJP leader Anil Parihar and his brother Ajit Parihar. He was alsoinvolved in the killings of RSS functionary Chanderkant Sharma and his PSO.

It may be mentioned here that theencounter took place after NSA Ajit Doval's visit to Jammu and Kashmir onThursday. He has asked the J&K Police and paramilitary forces to intensifyanti-terror operations.