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Army Launches Search Operations in North Kashmir

By Fayaz Wani

Srinagar, March 13: The Indian army soldiers have launched a massive combing and search operations in North Kashmir's Kupwara area after receiving inputs about the presence of militants in the area.

Sources said Indian army and policemen launched a massive combing and search operations in the Rangwar forest area of Chowkibal in Kupwara, close to defacto border with Pakistan.

"The search operation was launched after receiving inputs that militants, who had recently infiltrated into Kashmir from the Pakistani controlled Kashmir, are hiding in the forest area," sources said.

They said so far there has been no face-off between militants and the soldiers.

According to security officials, the presence of militants in North Kashmir's Kupwara, Baramulla, Sopore and in some parts of South Kashmir has increased after 'successful' infiltration of some militants. There has been a steep increase in encounters and other militancy related incidents in Kashmir this year.

Only yesterday (Friday) a special police officer was shot dead by suspected militants at Jawahar Nagar, some 4 kms from the summer capital Srinagar.

Fayaz Wani reports on life in Srinagar, Kashmir.