Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 11: Police and CRPF today recovered an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) at Koteranka in Budhal area of Rajouri district while security forces and police recovered consignment of arms and explosives in Reasi and Ramban districts and destroyed two hideouts of the militants.
Reports said an IED was spotted by the police and 72 CRPF lying along roadside near a small culvert at Koteranka in Budhal area of Rajouri district this morning. Traffic on Koteranka-Budhal road was suspended.
The IED was recovered from the spot and shifted to an isolated area, where it was defused.
Police, however, said that the IED was an old device and rusted. It was not capable of causing any major damage, they said, adding that traffic was restored on Koteranka-Budhal road after the IED was defused.
Police and CRPF conducted searches in the area after recovery of the IED. However, no arrests were made from the spot.
Police, para-military and security forces were maintaining high alert on the eve of Independence Day. The IED was recovered during a search operation conducted jointly by police and para-military CRPF.
Meanwhile, troops of Rashtriya Rifles of Counter Insurgency Force Uniform busted a hideout of the militants at village Dhana in Mahore area of Reasi district today.
The hideout belonged to Hizbul Mujahideen outfit.
Recoveries made from the hideout included one 5.56 mm rifle with one magazine, 20 rounds, two 12 bore single battle rifles, 16 rounds of 12 bore ammunition, 22 fired cases of 12 bore ammunition, six HMG ammunition, one RPG, six UBGL grenades, four kg PEK explosive, 13 electronic detonators, 52 Pika ammunition link, one binocular, three battery secondary for radio set, three blankets, three cooking utensils, 10 kg rice, one Nokia battery charger, one Nokia mobile battery, one torch, two pencil cells and one sword.
Sources said the militants might have dumped the arms and explosives earlier but then failed to pick up the consignment.
At present, Reasi district was said to be free of militancy.
Police and Army destroyed another hideout of the militants at Bhimdassa in Gool area of Ramban district. This hideout too belonged to Hizbul Mujahideen outfit.
Recoveries made from the hideout included one Pika gun, one .303 rifle, four grenades of UBGL and one Chinese hand grenades.
Police and Army conducted searches in the area but no arrests were made from the spot. The searches, however, continued.