Clashes erupted between Indian forces and youth during a cordon and search operation launched by the latter in Manghama village of southern Pulwama district in India Held Kashmir.
Kashmir Times quoted local sources as saying that the government forces at around 2 pm laid a siege to the village following a specific input about the presence of “militants” in the area.
As soon as the security forces cordoned off the area and started searches, people, mostly youth, took to streets and held stone-throwing protests. The youth, they said, in an attempt to disrupt the operation resorted to intense stone throwing at the security forces, which were a part of the operation. The security forces responded with pellet firing and tear-smoke shelling to drive away the stone throwing youth who refused to relent.
During the clashes that continued for more than three hours, at least four youth suffered minor injuries after being hit by pellets. The injured were treated locally. The forces later called off the operation at around 5 pm after facing stiff resistance from the local youth.
Kashmir Times quoted a local police officer saying that the operation was called off following when forces failed to find alleged militants in the area.
