Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 1: Army and police today destroyed a natural hideout of the militants at village Athar in Kishtwar district and recovered a large quantity of explosive devices, ammunition and personal belongings of the militants including 15 live grenades.
“The consignment seized from inside the natural hideout was capable of causing extensive damage. With the recoveries, Army has thwarted designs of the militants to carry out strikes and revive dying militancy,’’ official sources said.
They added that the troops of Rashtriya Rifles and police conducted a joint search operation at village Athar, about six kilometers from Kishtwar district after developing an information that a consignment of explosives and ammunition had been dumped by the militants in a natural cave hideout.
As the cave was very narrow, troops had to enter inside very tactfully. However, they succeeded in their task. The search operation that started early today continued till this evening. Entire consignment of explosives and ammunition dumped inside the hideout was seized by the troops.
Recoveries included 15 grenades, 14 of which were Chinese, five magazines of AK-47, 392 rounds of AK-47, one hand held radio set, one pouch, one blanket, four pencil cells, one phiren, one woolen cap, two walking sticks, one torch and a large quantity of dry fruits and toffees.
“The seizure had the potential of causing large scale casualties and damage to life and property,’’ sources said, adding with the timely recovery Army and police have thwarted evil designs of the militants to revive dying militancy in Kishtwar district.
After effecting the recoveries, Army and police conducted searches at village Athar and surrounding heights. However, no arrests were made in the area. The search operation was called off this evening.
Worthwhile to mention here that few militants were still active in Kishtwar district though they had been lying very low as they were neither finding local support nor favourable hideouts. The pressure maintained by Army and police have also thwarted the militants’ plot to carry out any strike. While Doda district is almost free of militancy, very few militants were stated to be active in Kishtwar and Ramban districts.
Sources said the consignment of explosives, ammunition and other belongings might have been dumped by the militants inside the natural cave hideout to pick up them at an opportune time to carry out strikes especially during upcoming general elections.
Sources didn’t rule out the possibility of the militants having stayed in the hideout for sometime in the past and then left it dumping the consignment of explosives and ammunition there.
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