J&K: Woman killed, 8 injured as Shopian encounter sparks clashes between locals, security forces

Sparked by the killing of two terrorists in the Shopian encounter, clashes erupted between locals and the security forces in the Jammu and Kashmir district on Tuesday.

A 24-year old woman was killed while eight protestors were injured in the clashes near the encounter site.  The woman suffered bullet injuries and was declared dead on arrival at hospital. 

The clashes erupted between protesters and forces after a cordon-and-search-operation was launched.  As per media reports, the protestors pelted stones at the forces to disrupt their operation against the terrorists. 

In return, the armed forces lobbed teargas shells and fired pellets to disperse the protesters, triggering further clashes.

Earlier, two militants, hiding in a residential house, were killed during an overnight encounter. A third terrorist, also hiding in the house, started firing at the forces and managed to escape.

The identities of the militants are being ascertained.