Massive stone-pelting clashes erupted in two villages of south Kashmir’s Kulgam district on Wednesday as forces launched search and cordon operations to neutralize militants suspected to be present there.According to official sources, government forces including army, CRPF and police cordoned off Tarigam village of Kulgam district in the morning hours of Wednesday after receiving an input about the presence of some militants.They, the official sources, said that as the searches were started the locals including women came out of their houses and started protests.The locals also pelted stones on forces involved in counter-insurgency operations and tried to break the cordon to give safe passage to militants who were believed to be trapped there.As the locals continued to pelt stones, police used teargas shells and fired in air to disperse the protesters, official sources said, adding that the clashes between the two sides continued for several hours and few persons were reported to be injured. Following the clashes, the cordon and search operation in the Tarigam village was called off.Similar clashes erupted at Qaimoh area of Kulgam district today after forces launched a cordon and search operation to neutralize the militants suspected to be present in Makhdoom Mohalla locality. According to sources, locals came out of their houses and disrupted the operation by pelting stones on forces personnel. The government forces responded by teargas shells and in the ensuing clashes some women were reported injured.Due to clashes, the anti-militant operation at Qaimoh was called off by forces. Sources further said that minor stone-pelting clashes were also reported from Kakpora area of Pulwama district. However, the situation there was brought under control by police, the sources added.(GNS)