Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 28: Mystery shrouded recovery of a powerful Chinese grenade just outside Thathri police station in Doda district this morning minutes before Chief Secretary Mohammad Iqbal Khandey had to cross the road on way from Kishtwar to Doda.
SSP Doda Arif Reshu confirmed recovery of powerful Chinese grenades from near Thathri police station at 9.55 am today but said it was inside the lane while the Chief Secretary had to cross from the main road.
He said the preliminary investigations have revealed that the grenade appeared to have been planted near the police station and not thrown. However, he admitted that lever and pin of the grenade were removed when it was recovered. The level and the pin were recovered near the police station building.
Official sources said soon after recovery of the grenades by the police personnel of Thathri police station, who spotted it at 9.55 am, the entire area was cordoned off by the cops. The grenade was seized and removed safely to quite a few distance away from the police station building.
The Chief Secretary crossed the road safely from Kishtwar to Doda amid tight security arrangements. Mr Khandey had yesterday reviewed development works in Kishtwar at a high level meeting of the officers. After night halt, he proceeded today to Doda for review of the works.
Police said a Bomb Disposal Squad was called to Thathri, which examined the grenade, took it to a safer area and defused it safely. “It was a powerful Chinese grenade,” sources said.
Sources didn’t rule out an attempt by the militants to target Thathri police station by either throwing or planting the grenade near it. The police station was only yards away from the site of recovery of grenade.
They said police was working on different theories in connection with recovery of the grenade.
“As there was very less presence of the militants in Thathri area, the ultras might have used the Over Ground Workers (OGWs) to throw or plant the grenades,” sources said and added that some police personnel including the Special Police Officers (SPOs) were also being investigated for the recovery of the grenade.
Some suspects were also being questioned, they added but said so far there has been no conclusive lead.
It may be mentioned here that Doda district has been declared free of militancy though its neighbouring districts including Kishtwar and Ramban did have presence of some militants. Sources said the militants might have used the OGWs to plan or throw the grenade and added that the facts would come out during the investigations.
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