Government forces on Saturday cordoned off the Balgarden area of Srinagar and started Cordon and Search Operation (CASO), sources said.

An eyewitness said that forces laid Cardon in Balgarden area and started searches triggering panic among people.

CRPF personnel and policemen were searching the shops and the buildings in the area.

They said that besides frisking, the commuters and pedestrians were also asked to produce the identity cards.

The CASO comes four days after a militant attack in Batmaloo area of the city left a CRPF trooper dead and another injured.

The search operation was going on when reports last came in.

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