Clashes erupted in Palhalan area of North Kashmir’s Baramulla district after a gun battle between militants and the government forces on Friday morning.Reports said that government forces cordoned off Tantray Mohalla Palhalan after they received inputs about the presence of militants.Reports said that Government Forces established contact with a lone militant present in the house of one Fayaz Ahmed.Witnesses said that there was massive exchange of firing while protesters hit to roads and pelted stones on the deployed forces who retaliated with pellets and tear-smoke shelling.A couple of protesters were wounded while one of the youth received pellets injuries.Reports said that a local militant Yousuf Kantroo of Chek Kawosa was present in the house who managed to escape from the spot.A police handout said that had received information about the presence of militants in Tantaraypora Palhalan. “Accordingly a joint operation was launched in the area. While the cordon was being established and civilians being evacuated from the area, militants fired indiscriminately and managed to escape taking advantage of darkness.” (CNS)