Srinagar: The government forces on Thursday called off the search operation as there was no militant found present at Gugloora area of Pinjura in south Kashmir’s Shopian district.

A civilian was killed and several others were injured in government forces action during a cordon-and-search operation late Wednesday evening at Gugloora. 

Locals said that government forces resorted to teargas shelling, pellets and live ammunition to disperse the protesters. Sajad Ahmad Parray son of Ali Mohd Parray of Buderhama village along with several others sustained critical injuries and were taken to district hospital Shopian.

Parray later succumbed to his injuries. he was from Baderhama Shopian.

Over 45 people sustained injuries during clashes with forces.

Sajad was declared brought dead on arrival by the government at the hospital, they said.

Some other critically injured person were referred to Srinagar hospital for specialized treatment, they said.

Later, the exchange of fire between the militants and government forces stopped the house where the forces  suspected that militants were hiding was blasted. “One house has been razed to the ground,” locals said.

“But no body has been retrieved yet. The search operation is still in progress”.

The locals said the  house owner,  Mohd Shafi Malik, whose house was blown up by forces sustained injuries after he received a bullet in his leg. It is not clear who fired at him.

“It is not clear whether militants were hiding in his house or not,” locals added.

Meanwhile, the joint team of army’s 44 RR, SOG and CRPF carried searches in the village but there was no militant present following which the operation has been called off. The situation in the area was tense, local sources said.

A police officer said that operation has been called off in the area and investigations would be done to ascertain facts as regards the killing of civilian and injuries to others.

“The probe will encompass circumstances leading to use of force,” the officer added.