Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 10: Army and police today recovered large quantity of explosives and ammunition including 19 grenades from Makhiwala forests in Hari Budha area of Mandi in Poonch district and thwarted designs of the militants to strike in the border district.
Recoveries were made during joint operation conducted by troops of 25 Rashtriya Rifles, 156 Territorial Army (TA), Special Operations Group (SOG) and Mandi police after developing specific information about an old dump of arms, ammunition and explosives having been dumped at natural cave in Makhiwala forests in general area of Hari Budha.
After day long searches in Makhiwala forests, Army and police detected the hideout and recovered dump of arms and explosives. The hideout, which might have been used by the militants earlier for stay, was destroyed to prevent its misuse in future, official sources said.
Recoveries included Under Barrel Grenade Launcher (UBGL), 16 UBGL grenades, one Chinese grenade, two RPG grenades, three AK magazines, eight AK rounds, one pistol with one pistol magazine, one RPG buster, 15 meters electric wire and one plastic bucket.
The consignment had been concealed in the plastic bucket and hidden inside the natural cave, sources said, adding that Army and police have seized the entire consignment.
Police parties in the operation were headed by DySP Sagra Singh Slathia and SHO Inspector Vijay Dhar under the supervision of SSP Jammu Jatinder Singh Johar.
Sources said recovery of the consignment including the UBGL and 19 grenades has thwarted designs of the militants. Though the consignment was an old dump, it could have been used by the militants if it would have fallen in their hands.
They added that presently there was negligible presence of the militants in the border district of Poonch. However, few militants and Over Ground Workers (OGWs), who could still be present in the border district, were lying low as they were not in a position to carry out any terror activity due to strict surveillance maintained by Army and police.
After effecting recoveries, Army, SOG and police conducted searches in Makhiwala forests. However, no movement of undesirable persons was spotted in the area. It was believed that the militants had dumped the consignment earlier but failed to collect it.
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