Security forces bust militant hideout, seize arms in J&K's Doda district

Bhaderwah, J&K: Security forces on Monday busted a militant hideout and seized a huge cache of arms and ammunition in Chirala forest of Jammu and Kashmir's Doda district.

File photo. Reuters.

Troops of 26 Rashtriya Rifles and Special Operation Group (SOG) of the Jammu and Kashmir Police launched a joint search operation in Sunarthwa forest near Gosti Bowl in Doda district and unearthed the hideout, an Army officer based in Thathri said.

"After a 36-hour operation, they busted a terrorist hideout from a natural cave and seized four weapons and other arms and ammunition including one AK 56 rifle, two 9mm pistols, one country-made pistol, seven AK magazines, two 9 mm pistol magazines, one Pika magazine, four UBGL grenades, five Pakistan-origin hand grenades and 1,696 rounds of 7.62 mm AK 47," he said.

Following inputs about suspicious movement of militants in the area for the last three months, the army had strengthened vigil there, the Army officer said.

Three columns (of 50 to 70 personnel each) of the Army, six SOG personnel and a head constable were part of the team that carried out the operation, he said.

The military officer said it was suspected that the seized arms belonged to one of the terrorist outfits active in the area in the past. They were handed over to the Thathri police and an FIR was subsequently registered.