Following spurt in Insurgent activities, government forces launched a major crackdown in south Kashmir’s Shopian district and laid siege to at least 20 villages, local sources said.
Sources told Kashmir Post that the government forces in a bid to neutralise Insurgents suspected to be hiding in Sugan, Turku Wangan and adjoining villages, launched a major cordon and search operation this early morning. Source said people at Sugan and Turku Wangan resisted security operation and pelted stones on government forces including army.
Police retaliated by teargas shelling, ensuing clashes between two sides. The cordon and search operation was intact in Shopian villages when reports last came in but no one has been arrested so far. More details awaited.
Meanwhile, At least one girl student was injured after government forces used tear gas to prevent students from marching into the streets in Sopore town of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district on Thursday.
Witnesses said that the students of Govt Boys Higher Secondary school, Degree College Sopore and Govt Girls Higher Secondary school staged massive protests against the arrests of several students during past two weeks of protests across Kashmir.
They said that the students took out a protest march from Government Boys Higher Secondary School Sopore towards the Degree College through Iqbal Market.
The students were raising pro-freedom slogans.
The forces used tear smoke to disperse the protesting students, including girl students.
At least one girl student was injured during the clashes, they said.
Meanwhile, shopkeepers lowered their shutters and traffic went off the roads.
