Police exercises restraint to save lives in south Kashmir: Spokesperson

A statement issued by a police spokesperson said that last evening, an unlawful assembly of miscreants were pelting stones and hurling petrol bombs on the security personnel deployed for maintaining law and order at Yaripora, Kulgam.

Some militants, who were part of the  mob, started firing indiscriminately on security personnel from the mob, he claimed.

The spokesperson said that assessing the situation and particularly taking into account the safety of civilian lives, the personnel deployed responded to the situation with exemplary restraint and in a calibrated manner.

Instead of firing back immediately, the militants were chased into an orchard and a search operation launched.

District police Kulgam advises youth of the district not to accompany terrorists in such gatherings where collateral fire may cause unfortunate death of anyone, the statement said.

Meanwhile, Director General of Police has expressed grief over the death of three civilians in security force firing during demonstration in Badgam district, where a militant was killed and a soldier injured in an encounter on March 28.

He advised people to avoid assembling in the area where encounter between militants and security forces is likely. "I appeal to parents to prevent their children from going to encounter site," he said.