Clashes between residents and government forces erupted in a Pulwama village here on Thursday morning during a cordon-and-search operation.
A police official said that around 5.30 am, joint teams of army’s 44 Rashtriya Rifles, Central Reserve Police Force and special operations group of Jammu and Kashmir police laid a siege around Arihal village following a tip off about presence of militants in the area.
While the search was in progress, scores of youth came out of their homes and spilled out on to the streets throwing stones at the government forces in a bid to push them back.
The forces responded by firing tear smoke shells.
The operation, according to the official, was called off after no militant was found in the area.
Meanwhile, government forces Thursday claimed to have busted a militant hideout in Ramnagri village of Shopian district.
A police official said joint teams of police and soldiers of army’s 23 ‘para’ searched a house and recovered material used for making the Improvised Explosive Devices.
The police official said a case was registered and investigations started.