Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 30: Army and police today recovered a large quantity of arms, ammunition and explosives by destroying a militant hideout at Sunarthau forests in Doda district.
Official sources said a joint team of Army and police carried out searches in Sunarthau forests for past several days after getting specific information about suspicious unidentified movement and a dump of weaponry lying deep inside the forests.
Recoveries were made this morning which included one AK-56 rifle, two 9mm pistols, one country made pistol, seven AK magazines, two 9mm pistol magazines, one Pika magazine, four grenades of Under Barrel Grenade Launcher (UBGL), five hand grenades of Pakistan origin, 1696 rounds of 7.62 mm AK-47, 1340 rounds of 7.62mm CTN, 40 belted rounds of Pika, two binoculars, one telescopic night sight, one camera, 10 recording cassettes and sustenance stores.
The arms and ammunition had been dumped by the former militants inside a natural cave hideout, sources said.
They added that the Army had been getting information of suspicious unidentified movement of personnel in the general area for the last three months and therefore, a close watch was being maintained. The recovered arms reportedly belonged to one of the militant outfits of the area, active in the past, which could have been hidden for later usage, sources said.
“The area due to its remoteness and rugged terrain makes it an ideal location for establishing a hideout. The dense forest and steep gradient increased the degree of difficulty in approach to the intended target area and subsequent search,” sources said.
The recovery of war like stores was possible only due to the accurate intelligence developed by the Army and launching of well synchronised joint operation with SOG in the dense jungle, in a relentless day and night operation of 36 hours, sources said.
Apart from the three columns of the Army, the team also included one head constable with 6 persons of SOG from Thathri police station. The recovered arms and ammunition were handed over to the Thathri police station wherein a FIR has been lodged.
“The recovery of a huge cache has given a major success to the security forces and a massive blow to the terrorists in the area, thereby preventing the arms and ammunition from falling into the hands of inimical elements, aiming at revival of militancy in Doda district,” sources said.
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