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Srinagar: Police on June 7 fired shots in the air and used teargas shells to disperse several hundred people protesting the killing of 8 militants in an encounter with security forces at Zainapora in Shopian area of Pulwama district in South Kashmir on June 6 night.

Police used force as people marched on the streets of Zainapora in violation of prohibitory orders and also pelted stones on Shopian police station demanding bodies of the slain militants, official reports said.

The militants, belonging to Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) and Lashker-e-Toiba (LeT), were killed by the troops of Rashtriya Rifles in a gunfight during search operations at village Hafguri-Weehbug near Zainapora late on June 6 night.

Two houses and five cow sheds were gutted during the encounter. Six AK assault rifles and two pistols were recovered from the debris.

As the news of the killing of militants spread, about one thousand people, raising pro-freedom slogans assembled at Zainapora police station and demanded bodies of the ultras, the reports said.

The reports said the bodies of the militants had been taken away by the Army to their camp. Policemen tried to persuade the agitated people to disperse but they showed reluctance forcing the cops to use batons and fire teargas shells to disperse them.

The protestors were chased away but they reassembled and marched towards police station Shopian where they were told the bodies were still lying with the Army. They started pelting stones on the police station, the reports said.

PTI