A day after security forces launched an anti-terror operation in the Zabarwan forests surrounding Srinagar, the Jammu and Kashmir police have advised trekkers in the area to inform the local police before heading for treks in or along the forest.

Just after the operation was launched on Sunday, two trekkers were caught in the area in the mountains as gunfire started, officials said. They dialled 100 to inform the police of their presence in the area, and were rescued before any harm could come to them, they said, officials said.

A senior police officer told The Indian Express, “The operation had started and as soon as they (the trekkers) heard the initial firing, they called the police on 100. Post this, the control room informed the local police and information was conveyed to the Army, who then stopped firing for a while to rescue them.”

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The Zabarwan range remains a popular trekking area within Srinagar. On Sunday, a team of security forces had exchanged fire with militants in the area.

The J&K police said forces were conducting search operations in the forest near Srinagar city on the basis of inputs regarding the presence of militants when they first came under fire. However, no injury was reported during this gunbattle, and the militants are reported to have escaped from the area.

Police sources said that routinely, searches and patrolling are conducted in the forest area, which is why trekkers have now been warned to inform local police before heading into the area as a safety measure.

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