Clashes erupt in Kulgam village; firing stops

Srinagar: Government forces on Friday resorted to aerial firing to disperse protesters who were trying to disrupt an anti-militant operation in Devsar area of Kulgam in south Kashmir. Earlier, reports said that militants and government forces exchanged gunfire in Churath village after the latter launched a cordon-and-search-operation. They said that the operation was launched by 19 RR of army, SOG of Jammu and Kashmir police and CRPF following inputs about the presence of militants. As they approached the suspected spot, the militants opened fire, drawing retaliation from the forces.Youth took to streets and pelted the forces with stones to disrupt the operation. The forces responded by lobbing teargas shells and firing several shots in air to break up the protests. Meanwhile, the exchange of fire has stopped.