The crack-down and subsequent search operation sparked violent protest in Sambora hamlet of saffron town Pampore in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district on Thursday.Police sources told news agency CNS that the village was cordoned off and door-to-door search operation was launched after they received inputs about the presence of all but 4 militants in the area. Government forces had inputs that four militants including the one responsible for the recent killing of a BJP Sarpanch had been present in the village.Sources added that search operation was launched at around 9 in the morning and it ended on violent note at 3 pm when large number of people resorted to massive stone-pelting, while the forces fired tear-smoke shells to disperse the protesters.
The search operation was conducted by Army personnel from 50 Rashtriya Rifles. Reports said that shortly after the search operation was started to flush out the militants, large number of people hit to roads and started pro-freedom protest. Reports said that during the search operation no arrests were made, however, as the forces tried to leave the village, a large number of protesters attacked them with stones, prompting government forces to resort to tear-smoke shells. The clashes between forces and protesters continued for hours. (CNS)