Villagers gathered around the encounter site at Budgam district in Central Kashmir on Tuesday | Photo Credit: Nissar Ahmadmore-inThree civilians were killed in an operation by security forces against protestors near an encounter site in Budgam district in Kashmir during an anti-militancy operation, which ended with the killing of the lone militant. “One militant has been killed and a weapon has been recovered from the scene of the encounter,” an army official said. He said the search operation turned into a gunbattle after the militant opened firing on security forces. Even after the death of the militant, clashes between protestors and security forces were still continuing when reports last came in, he added. The trend of civilians assembling near encounter sites and engaging security forces in clashes emerged last year.

Source: The Hindu March 28, 2017 04:23 UTC