In Jammu & Kashmir, the cordon and search operation is underway in north Kashmir's Bandipora district. An Army spokesman this evening told AIR that the cordon and search operation is in progress in Koota Sathri forest area of Bandipora, which is around 62 Kms in north of Srinagar headquarters. He said the contact could not be made with the militants during the day's search operation. <br/><br/>There was an initial exchange of fire with militants today morning when Army and Special Operations Group (SOG) of State Police launched joint operation on a specific input about presence of militants in the area. <br/><br/>Reports had suggested that five to eight militants were believed to be trapped in the Sathri forests probably led by Lashkar e Toiba commander Abu Qasim. Qasim is considered to be the mastermind behind the operation that led to the killing of top counter insurgency junior police officer Altaf Ahmad Dar on 07th of this month in Bandipora area.