The Army on Sunday claimed to have recovered a huge cache of arms and ammunition including 18 AK-series rifles from the line of Control (loC) area in north Kashmir's Kupwara district. The recovery is significant in the wake of the ongoing Assembly elections in Jammu & Kashmir where separatist militants and political groups have called for a poll boycott.
Spokesman of Srinagar-based XV Corps, lt Col NN Joshi told The Pioneer that the arms and ammunition were recovered from a hideout during a prolonged search operation of the forested area in Keran sector of north Kashmir.Earlier this month, the Army recovered three Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) from the loC area, smuggled in by militants from PoK to disrupt the poll process in the Valley.
Joshi said that besides AK rifles, five pistols were also recovered from the hideout.The search operation was in progress when last reports came in from the area.In another incident, the Army recovered one sniper rifle along with a magazine and five rounds from a hideout in Hajibal area in Uri sector of north Kashmir's Baramulla district. The Uri Assembly segment witnesses huge turnout in the elections and there has been no major incident of violence in the area for several years.
As many as 18 hand grenades, six rocket projectile guns (RPG), two disposable rocket launchers, two radio sets and two mortar bombs were also recovered during the operation, the official said.