Forces call off operation after militants escape from Pulwama village

Srinagar/May,24: Government Forces on Wednesday called off a search operation in a Pulwama village in southern part of Kashmir as the militants managed to escape from their cordon.
Reports said that the cordon and search operation, which commenced on Tuesday evening after exchange of fire between militants and Forces was called off as militants managed to escape under the cover of darkness at Hakripora Kakapora area of Pulwama district.
Clashes erupted in the area soon after forces launched a cordon and search operation in the village. Eyewitnesses said scores of people took to streets and pelted stones at the forces to help militants escape, reports said.
Locals according to reports said that amidst clashes people removed steel plates of a bridge at Gadoora to halt army vehicles from reaching the spot where militants were hiding.
Forces used teargas shelling to disperse the protesters, local sources said.