JAMMU : Security forces today busted a militant hideout and recovered cache of arms and ammunition from a natural cave in Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir.
Acting on a specific information Army and police launched a joint and surgical joint search operation in Sunarthwa Forest near Gosti Bowl in Doda district and busted a hideout.
“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,” police sources here said.
They said that the recovered arms are likely to belong to one of the terrorist tanzeems of the area, active in the past, which could have been hidden for later usage.
“The area due to its remoteness and rugged terrain makes it an ideal location for establishing a hideout,” they added. Sources said that the teams recovered a total of four weapons and war like stores, which included one AK 56 Rifle, two 9mm Pistols, one Country Made Pistol, seven AK Magazines, two 9 mm Pistol Magazines, one Pika Magazine, four UBGL Grenades, five Pak Origin Hand Grenades, 1696 Rounds of 7.62 mm AK 47, 1340 Rounds of 7.62 mm CTN, 40 Belted Rounds of Pika, two Binoculars, one Telescopic Night Sight, one Camera, ten Recording Cassettes and sustenance stores from a natural cave hideout in Sunarthwa Forest.
The dense forest and steep gradient increased the degree of difficulty in approach to the intended target area and subsequent search, sources added.
“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,” they added.
Apart from the three columns of Indian Army, the team also included one Head Constable with six persons of SOG from Thatri Police Station. The recovered arms and ammunition were handed over to the Thatri, Police Station wherein a FIR has been lodged.
Police said that 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. (agencies)
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