Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 23: Security forces today averted major tragedy when they detected and defused powerful explosive material on a hillock at village Kalai, about 11 kilometers from Poonch on Jammu-Poonch road, which is used by the pilgrims of annual Shri Budda Amarnath Ji yatra.
Reports said powerful explosive material was detected by some locals and security personnel lying on a hillock at village Kalai in Poonch district this afternoon. Immediately thereafter, Army and police personnel reached the spot and cordoned off the area.
Vehicular movement was suspended on the road. Later, a Bomb Disposal Squad reached the spot and defused the explosive material.
Shri Budda Amarnath Ji yatra later progressed smoothly towards the holy shrine escorted by police and para-military personnel.
Sources said the explosive material had been fitted with wire but it hadn’t been fully converted into an IED. Moreover, they added, it was kept on the hillock and not the main road.
However, the explosive material was meant to cause harm to the yatra, sources said, adding that security forces conducted search operation in the area but the militants, responsible for planting the explosive, remained untraced.
Police have registered a case and were conducting investigations.
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