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Srinagar: People dug-out two militants alive from the rubble of a house which was destroyed by the army and police to overpower the militants in South Kashmir’s Kulgam area.

Eye witnesses said forces could not withstand the fury of stone pelting and protests as thousands of people gathered at the site of gunfight.

“The encounter started at around Sehri (Pre-dawn) at Mohammadpora Village of Kulgam,” witnesses said.

“They demolished the house using heavy explosives. They left in hurry as they could not face thousands of people who wanted to break the cordon and save the trapped militants”.

“Thousands of people have converged at the gunfight scene. They were pelting stones at the forces. They were raising slogans in favor of freedom”.

Later, witnesses said, as the forces left, a sea of people thronged at the site of gunfight.

“They dug out two militants alive from the rubble,” witnesses said.

“They lifted them on their shoulder, raising slogans in favor of freedom. There was whistling and shouting of Nara-e-Takbeer slogans”.

The witnesses said apart from the house, the owner lost his small orchard as well.

“The house was destroyed so was the orchard located around the house,” they said.

Over 60 people were injured after forces opened pellets on the protesters trying to save the militants. Four of them have been shifted to Srinagar for advanced treatment.

Three LeT militants had escaped under cover of darkness and taking advantage of protests. Two more were rescued by locals from debris as forces called off the operation due to massive protests near encounter site at Mohamadpora village of Kulgam. The operation lasted for 12 hours as the cordon was laid at 11 pm in the night.