Security forces on Friday evening resorted to aerial firing to disperse demonstrators, who tried to disrupt an anti-insurgency operation in south Kashmir district of Kulgam.
Army sources told that following specific information about presence of militants, a joint search operation was launched by Special Operations Group (SOG) of state police, Army and CRPF at village Churath in Devsar in Kulgam on Friday evening.
However, they said when security forces were cordoning off the village, scores of protestors hit the streets to disperse the operation.
The security forces resorted to aerial firing to disperse the demonstrators, who were regrouping and pelting stones, they said.
The operation was still going on when the reports last came in, they added.