In a joint operation, security forces Tuesday recovered around 18-kg high density explosive material from the 'dicky' of a passenger vehicle, parked near an educational institution in the BC road area of Jammu. Both the driver and conductor of the bus, bearing registration number JK02AU-7167, were detained for questioning by the police authorities.
Soon after recovering the consignment, the police authorities had pressed panic buttons as the bag also contained a detailed map, highlighting some of the vital installations of Jammu including airport, bus stand and an Army camp in Bari Brahmana area.
J&K police had also launched a massive manhunt to track down the 'foot prints' of a couple, who probably handed over the consignment to the bus conductor, in Billawar area of Kathua district to unravel the 'sinister' design.
Police investigators are working hard to piece together the puzzle behind the recovery of second consignment of an explosive material in the last eight days in the region.
Confirming the seizure, Defence spokesman Lt-Col Devender Anand in Jammu said, “A consignment of an explosive material has been confiscated by the security forces from a passenger bus parked outside a private school in the BC road area". Defence Spokesman said, the bag was handed over to the conductor in Billawar to hand it over to a person in Jammu.”
The operation was launched by the security forces early morning after receiving a tip off about the presence of explosive material in a bus plying between Billawar to Jammu.
According to the preliminary reports, "the bag containing explosive material was handed over to the cleaner of the bus by a lady in Billawar along with Rs 200". Station House Officer, Billawar Joginder Singh Chib told The Pioneer over telephone, "We are gathering details of individuals who were present at the bus station in Billawar to zero in on the persons who actually handed over the consignment of explosive material to the conductor to be delivered in Jammu". SHO, Billwar claimed several OGW's active in the area have been detained for questioning to ascertain the identity of those persons.
This is the second major seizure of same type of explosive material in the last eight days.
Earlier, on September 23, around 40 kg explosive material was recovered by the Army at village Dher in Billawar tehsil of Kathua district.
Two days later, Billawar police had arrested one of the main accused Mohammad Khalil son of Satar Din, a resident of Dher, Billawar. Currently, Mohd Khalil is undergoing interrogation at the Joint Interrogation centre in Jammu.