Clashes erupted at Wugargund area of Kareemabad village of Pulwama district on Tuesday late evening after forces launched a cordon-and-search-operation (CASO) in the area.
A witness said youth took to streets and clashed with forces after the CASO was launched.
“A group of locals resorted to heavy stone-pelting to disrupt the CASO. However, forces responded by lobbing teargas shells and aerial firing, to disperse the protesting youth.” said an witness.
Jammu and Kashmir police, 55 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) and 183bn Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) had jointly launched the operation.
SSP Pulwama Aslam Chaudhry said that some youth from neighbouring Kareemabad village had attempted to disrupt the operation and police used teargas shells to chase them away.
An official said that the search operation was launched after “specific inputs about the presence of militants” there. The operation was on when this report was being filed.