An army soldier and a central reserve police force (CRPF) man were injured during intense clashes that erupted in Poniwoha village of southern Kulgam district on Friday following an attempt by forces to arrest a cleric, local residents said. Officials however said clashes erupted after they launched a search operation in the area following “inputs” about presence of militants there.
A joint team of the army and special operations group ofJammu and Kashmir police Friday evening raided the village to arrest a localpreacher who has been evading arrest for the past few months, a group of localresidents said, wishing not to be named.
The forces resorted to aerial firing and tear-gas shellingto disperse the protesters, they said.
A senior police officer, however, denied reports that forcesentered the village to arrest a preacher.
“The area was not cordoned off to arrest anyone but therewere specific inputs about presence of militants there. The locals howeverdisrupted the operation and pelted stones on forces,” he said.
Both soldiers received minor injuries and were given first aid,he said.
Meanwhile, more forces were rushed to be area and clasheswere on when this report was being filed.