Army and Special Operation Group of Police have launched combing operations in North Kashmir’s Bandipore forests after a group of militants were spotted by a patrol party in the area. Officials said that an army and police patrol spotted a militant group in the forests of Arin Kadoora, the militants fired on the troops that resulted in an encounter. The officials said that they have reports that more than five militants could be in the area. After the killing of inspector Altaf Ahmad in Bandipore on October 8, police and army had been looking for a group of militants that has been spotted in the area. Police said that they had information that Lashkar commander Abu Qasim had traveled to Bandipore from his Tral hideout to receive the militants. Officials said that it is not clear, whether Abu Qasim is among the militants spotted by the army in Arin forests. Additional army and policemen have been sent towards the area. A senior police officer said that after initial gun fire the firing has stopped.
