Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 26: Army and police today recovered large quantity of arms, ammunition and explosives in Doda district and thwarted suspected terror plot. Recoveries included seven deadly Chinese hand grenades.
Official sources said troops of Rashtriya Rifles and Special Task Force (STF) of Doda police conducted joint search operation in general area of Bhimal Nullah in Doda this afternoon after developing specific information about a dump of arms, ammunition and explosives lying there.
Army and police busted natural cave hideout of the militants and made the recoveries, which included one 9mm pistol with two magazines, one 30mm Under Barrel Grenade Launcher (UBGL), five RPG grenades, seven Chinese hand grenades, six UBGL grenades, five canister booster for rockets, three AK-47 magazines, two magazines of 9mm pistol, two rounds of AK-47, 27 rounds of Pika gun, 14 rounds of 7.62mm sniper rifles and 79 rounds of 9mm pistol.
Sources said it was being ascertained as to whether the recovery of arms, ammunition and explosives was an old one or new. Worthwhile to mention here that Doda has already been declared as militancy free district. However, presence of some Over Ground Workers (OGWs) of the militants in the district hasn’t been ruled out.
Army and police experts were examining the explosives material, sources said, adding there was a possibility that since Doda district was once hub of militancy, the consignment might have been dumped by the militants inside the natural cave hideout but they later failed to pick it up.
However, the consignment was capable of causing extensive damage if it would have fallen in the hands of militants or their Over Ground Workers.
After making the recoveries, Army and police personnel conducted search operations along Bhimal Nullah. However, no arrests were made from the spot.
Police have registered a case in connection with the recoveries for further investigations.
Our Srinagar correspondent adds: Army today recovered huge cache of arms and ammunition from Halmatpura in district Kupwara during a search operation of the forest area.
Acting on a specific input Army’s Rashtriya Rifle and Territorial Army launched search operations early today in general area of Halmatpura North of Kupwara that led to the recovery of a huge cache of arms, ammunition and war like stores.
The recoveries included one AK 47 rifle with 4 magazines, 523 rounds of AK 47, one UBGL with 8 grenades, one AK 47 Silencer, one RPG, 3 RPG bombs, 8 RPG boosters, 312 rounds of 7.62 Pikka Machine Gun, RDX, 7 detonators, 4 Chinese grenades, 3 pistols with 5 magazines, one binocular and 2 radio sets.
This is one of the major recoveries in the area, sources said.
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