Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar, May 16: Security forces today busted a militant hideout in North Kashmir’s Baramulla district after reports of continued militant movements in the area and a massive hunt continued for the militants who snatched weapons from security forces recently in South Kashmir and attempted weapon snatching in Budgam district last night.
Lt Colonel Koshik Gosh, Commanding Officer Rashtriya Rifles, told reporters that for the past two weeks they were getting information about movement of the militants in Zandfaran and Guriwan forest area of Baramulla district. “We were following it and last night we got specific input and we launched the operation during night. At around 6:30 a.m. we found a hideout”, he said.
The Army launched the operation along with Special Operations Group of Jammu and Kashmir Police, Baramulla in forested area of Guriwan Village near Zandfaran, South of Gantamulla during the night and recovered huge cache of arms, ammunition and war like stores.
The hideout was busted after search parties of the Rashtriya Rifle unit and Police carried out concerted search of the area. The recovered arms and ammunition include one AK 47 rifle, 460 rounds of AK-47 ammunition, one Chinese pistol, two magazines of Chinese pistol, 28 rounds of Chinese pistol, 8 RPGs, 3 UBGL, 20 UBGL rounds, 8 RPG Boosters, 2 Radio sets and 1 GPS.
A defence spokesman said that Lt General Subrata Saha, Chinar Corps Commander, complimented the alertness of troops who braving the rough terrain, unearthed the weapons and grenades thereby denying their use by inimical elements.
In the meantime, security forces conducted search operations at various places in Charar-e-Sharief area of Central Kashmir district of Budgam after an attempted weapon snatching by the militants that was foiled by police guards last night.
Last night militants attempted weapon snatching at the residence of a Congress leader, Zahid Jan, in Charar-e-Sharif area of district Budgam, however, it was foiled by alert security guards.
Police and CRPF conducted raid at Baghe Mehtab and Machhuwa in the outskirts of Srinagar after inputs about militants hiding in the area.
However, no one was arrested.
It may be mentioned here that the security forces had input that the two top Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) commanders, Irshad Ahmad Ganai and Dujana had come to the area in the outskirts of Srinagar to conduct reccee.
Police, CRPF and Army also conducted search operations at Kakapora, Qazipora and Naina Batpora in district Pulwama today. They are searching the militants who killed two CRPF men including an officer and snatched weapons early this week at Halmulla in Sangam area of Anantnag district. The militants are believed to be of Hizbul Mujahideen and troops have launched a massive hunt against them.
Security forces are also conducted searches in Haff Shrimal and Trenz in Imam Sahib area of Shopian today. They are searching the militants who killed three police men at Amshipora last month. However, those militants are still at large.
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