Srinagar: Clashes between civilian protesters and government forces erupted in Bijbehara town on Thursday moments after a local militant killed in a gunfight was laid to rest.

Witnesses said that the local youth pelted stones and bricks on the government forces deployed in the main town. The forces resorted heavy tear smoke shelling and pellet firing on the protesters.

A police official said that minor clashes erupted in the town. “We have blocked all the entry and exit points of the town as a precautionary measure,” he said.

Reports said that some youth have sustained injuries during the clashes, however, it could not be confirmed immediately.

Earlier thousands of people including women and children thronged the funeral prayers of slain militants killed in a pre-dawn gunfight with government forces in Bagander Mohalla of Bijbehara.

Witnesses said that thousands of people from different areas of Anantnag district participated in the funeral of Safdar Ahmad at Zirpora in Biijbehra amid multiple rounds of funeral prayers.

Meanwhile, a complete shutdown is being observed in the district while authorities have imposed restrictions in main town Anantnag amidst a complete internet shutdown.