Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 28: In a major breakthrough, troops of Rashtriya Rifles and police today busted a major hideout of the militants at Deolmarg forests in village Bagga in Mahore sub division at Pir Panjal mountains of Reasi district and recovered a large quantity of arms, ammunition and explosive material.
Official sources said a joint team of Rashtriya Rifles battalion located at Bagga under the aegis of Counter Insurgency Force based at Reasi launched a search operation with local police in Deolmarg forests on the upper reaches of Pir Panjal mountains this morning after developing an information about a dump of arms and ammunition inside a natural cave.
After several hours of searches, the troops came across a natural cave, which was two feet wide and four feet deep inside thick forests of Deolmarg atop Pir Panjal mountains. The troops recovered the consignment from inside the hideout.
Recoveries included one Under Barrel Grenade Launcher (UBGL), one pistol with loaded magazine, one magazine of AK-47 rifle, a large quantity of Chinese hand grenades explosives and ammunition of AK-47 besides binoculars, cameras etc.
Sources said the consignment of arms and ammunition had been buried by the local militants when they were operating in the area few days back. Presently, Reasi district is stated to be free of militancy.
Sources said the timely recovery of arms and ammunition by Army and police has thwarted a possible terror plot as they could have been used by the militants in future.
“This successful operation conducted by Rashtriya Rifles battalion located at Bagga in Mahore sub division will be a major setback to any future terrorist activity in Gulabgarh belt,’’ sources said.