*SRINAGAR – T*hree civilians, including a 15-year-old, were martyred inclashes in occupied Jammu and Kashmir’s Kulgam district, officials said. Atleast 35 people were injured when locals attacked security personnel withstones, they said.

Following a tip-off about the presence of militants in Khudwani, securityforces laid a trap and began combing the area last night, officials said.

Initially, three personnel were injured. An Army jawan died of his injurieslater, the officials said.

As the gun battle raged, locals poured out of their homes and threw stonesat security forces who fired in order to disperse crowds. Bilal Ahmad Dar,17, and 28-year-old Sharjeel Sheikh, who were injured in the clashesbetween locals and the forces in Wani Mohalla died at a hospital.

Faisal Elahi, 15, was rushed to a hospital with critical bullet injuries,but he couldn’t be saved.

The security forces said that they had to open fire to discourage thelocals from breaking the cordon. “They wanted to disrupt the operation,” anofficer said.

The news of civilian deaths in Kulgam led to more clashes between studentsand security personnel in north Kashmir’s Sopore town. Students of KashmirUniversity also protested against the security forces.

As the situation remains tense, all schools and colleges in Kulgam havebeen asked to stay close and internet services remain suspended acrosssouth Kashmir.

Earlier in January, three civilians died when security personnel openedfire to chase away protesters who were throwing stones at an Army convoypassing through Ganovpora village in Shopian district.