Major tragedy averted
Jammu/Srinagar, January 24 (Vijay Kumar) – The Jammu and Kashmir Police today recovered huge cache of arms, ammunition and explosives in two separate raids conducted on specific information at Pattan in Baramulla district and Nowshera in Rajouri district, thereby foiling major attempts of militants to disturb the ensuing Republic Day celebrations in the State.
The Police party conducted a raid at Poshnag Nallah, Kreeri under Police Station, Pattan, on a specific information and recovered 1 Peka UMG, 42 UBGL Granades, 13 mortar bombs, 57 hand granades, 51 stick granades, 2 anti tank mine, 6 explosive sticks, 26 IED circuit box, 4 IED metallic circuit box, 28 IED circuit box watch type, 32 IED connecting box, 35 IED battery connecting circuits, 30 detonators, 10/12 explosive powder, 1 ammunition box, 1 AK ammunition box, 4 radio sets, 4 spare batteries and 4 radio set battery charger.
The Police with the help of security forces also busted a militant hideout at Nowshera in Rajouri and recovered a huge quantity of arms and ammunition. These include 3 Pistols Pak made 7.63 mm, 3 Pistol Magazines, 5 AK magazines, 286 AK rounds, 2 HE 84 Grenade, 5 Kgs explosive, 12 Electronic Detonators and Cordex Wire 15 metres.
The Director General of Police, Kuldeep Khoda said that the Jammu and Kashmir Police along with the security forces have stepped up the vigil across the State to thwart designs of militants and anti- national elements. He said that the Jammu and Kashmir Police will ensure that Republic Day celebrations are conducted smoothly and peacefully across the State, adding that nobody will be allowed to vitiate the peaceful atmosphere in the State.
Mr. Khoda appreciated the Police parties who recovered huge quantity of arms and ammunition today, adding that this was the result of the extraordinary vigil mounted by the State Police.
Meanwhile officals sources said that the army has been asked to be on the stand by as the Government fears that militants, especially those belonging to Lashkar-i-Toiba,may attempt at disrupting th Republic Day celebrations. It is in this connection that the two capital cities of Srinagar and Jammu have become as good as fortressed with additional deployment of police and paramilitary forces. In fact the two stadiums,the Bakshi sports stadium in Srinagar and Maulana Azad stadium in Jammu,have remained out of bounds for people and the sportsmen during the last three weeks.
J&K Governor, N.N.Vohra,will preside over the main Republic Day function in MAM stadium in Jammu,While the Finance Minister,Abdul Rahim Rather,is scheduled to unfurl the National flag in Srinagar in Kashmir