Srinagar: Government forces on Friday launched a cordon and search operation in city centre Lal chowk.

According to a shopkeeper in Lal chowk at around 3:00 pm, special operations group (SOG), CRPF came in armored vehicles and laid a cordon from historic Ghanta Ghar to the court road, Lal Chowk here.

The commuters, pedestrians including students were also asked to produce the identity cards.

Vehicles in and around the business hub were thoroughly checked, they said.

Forces later appeared on Bund Lal chowk and frisked people there as well.

“They are army men,” said a pedestrian.

The searches were going on when the last reports came in.