Intense clashes erupted near the site of a gunfight in Kharpora Sirnoo area of south Kashmir’s Pulwama district on Saturday, leaving a civilian dead and at least three others injured.
Reports said that youth took to streets and hurled stones at the forces to disrupt the anti-militant operation.
They said the forces used live ammunition, pellets and tear gas to chase away the protesters who were trying to march towards the gunfight site.
A youth identified as Amir Ahmad Palla, a resident of Ashminder village of Pulwama, was killed in the forces’ action, said a source at district hospital Pulwama where he was taken for treatment.
He said at least three others were injured.
Earlier, three militants were killed and two army men wounded in the gunfight in Kharpora Sirnoo, reports said.
Quoting a senior police official, news agency GNS reported that three militants were killed in the exchange of fire.
The identity of the slain militants is yet to be ascertained, it said.
“Exchange of fire between militants and the security forces at Sirnoo village in Pulwama,” police said on Twitter. “Area is under cordon, details will follow.”
Reports said that a joint team of army’s 55RR, SOG and 182/183 BN CRPF launched cordon and search operation in Sirnoo area around 4 am.
As the joint team of forces approached the suspected spot the hiding militants fired at them, triggering a gunfight.
