Civilian killed after forces open fire on protesters

A civilian was killed and two others suffered injuries during clashes between protesters and security forces at Gusoo village of south Kashmir's Pulwama district on Monday.

Reports said the clashes erupted during a cordon-and-search-operation (CASO) in Gusoo.

As security forces were moving in the area, protesters tried to disrupt the CASO by throwing stones at them.

The forces, they said, responded by firing tear gas, pellets and bullets, in which a youth identified as Fayaz Wani received serious head injury.

He was rushed to SMHS hospital in Srinagar, where doctors declared him brought dead.

Two more protesters received pellet wounds and have been hospitalised, reports said.

The clashes erupted at a number of places in the southern district after security forces launched massive anti-militancy operations in 20 villages of Pulwama on Monday morning.

The coordinated offensive against militants by the security forces was launched in the backdrop of increasing incidents of attacks on police and political workers.

Assisted by drones, hundreds of troops and policemen were carrying house-to-house searches in Rohmu, Below, Mitrigam, Gasu, Chek, Mirgund, Chek, Sheikhpora, Hanjan, Frasipura and Kamrazipura villages of Pulwama, reports added.

Sources said the search operation began following reports about the presence of militants in these villages.

However, so far, there have been no reports of any exchange of fire from any of these villages.