During a cordon and search operation, Army allegedly thrashed locals and vandalized private property including dozens of vehicles in Mattan area of South Kashmir’s Anantnag district.The incident sparked massive protest on Friday. Locals informed that Government Forces headed by Army launched a search operation during night hours at Tikibagh Kralpora area of the district.They said that during the operation, Army targeted people without any provocation. “Army men resorted to ransacking of houses and damaged vehicles. They thrashed people irrespective of age and gender. Search operation was just an excuse while their real motive was to target the people. Kids were so scared that they started weeping while witnessing their family members getting thrashed by the armed forces,” the protesters said while blocking the Khanabal-Pahalgam (KP) road.The protesters raised pro-freedom and anti-army slogans. “The authorities must curb these unbridled forces who on the pretext of search operations even don’t spare womenfolk,” said a protesters to news agency CNS.A district official said that matter will be looked into while an official from police department denied the allegations saying the search operation culminated peacefully. (CNS)