Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Jan 10: Security forces today launched a massive operation in a forest area of Sopore in North Kashmir after receiving information about the presence of a group of militants in the forests.
Sources said that acting on information about the presence of a group of Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) militants, Army’s 27 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) and Special Operations Group of Jammu and Kashmir Police cordoned off Cherhar forests in Marble area of Sopore this morning.
Sources said that gun shots were heard from the forest area during the operation and it was not known whether it was the security forces who were firing or militants fired at them during the operation.
The security forces during the searches busted a militant hideout and recovered large quantity of eatables, utensils and blankets. The search operation in the forest area is going on.
In the meantime, Army today said that they arrested a militant from South Kashmir and recovered a weapon from him after locals lodged a complaint with the local unit of the Army.
Srinagar based defence spokesman said here that one AK-56 rifle, a magazine and 30 rounds of ammunition and 10 toy pistols were recovered from the arrested militant.
The statement issued by the defence spokesman said: “Locals solicited help of Army and Police in South Kashmir in apprehending a terrorist who was threatening them with dire consequences if the locals fail to pay a sum of Rs 50,000 for the cause of their Tanzeem.”
The spokesman said that on January 7, two masked men barged into the house of a local at night, took him at gunpoint to the outskirts of the village and threatened him to pay up Rs 50,000 for their Tanzeem cause or face dire consequences.
“Next day, the helpless individual mustered the courage to approach the local Army unit and Police. Displaying optimum synergy, coordination and alacrity, both Army and Police immediately acted upon to identify the terrorists responsible for the same”, the spokesman added.
The spokesman further said: “On January 9, following a tip off, the joint column of Army and Police raided a hideout and recovered one rifle AK-56, one magazine with 30 rounds along with 10 toy pistols which were used by the terrorists. The locals also volunteered to guide the Security Forces to the place where one terrorist was hiding. The terrorist was successfully apprehended highlighting the utmost level of mutual trust and synergy enjoyed by Army and Police in South Kashmir. He has been handed over to the Police.”
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