(PTI)
In less than two weeks, security forces today conducted the second major cordon-and-search operation in Kashmir’s Shopian district but called it off after hours as no militant could be found but not before stone-pelting mobs hampered it. The search operation, in which a large number of security forces were involved, was launched in Heff village in the Zainapora area following information about presence of militants there, an Army official said.
The operation, which started in the early hours, was hampered by local residents who pelted the forces with stones, a police official said. The official said additional security force personnel were sent to the area to disperse the stone-pelters. No casualties were reported in stone-pelting, he said. The forces did not find any militant or hideouts and as a result, the operation was called off, the official said. The search operation was carried out two weeks after a similar but larger operation was undertaken in Shopian district which has witnessed a spurt in militant activities recently.