Security forces busted a terrorist hideout in Reasi district on Friday and seized a huge cache of arms, ammunition and explosive materials, officials said. Based on specific information from a reliable source regarding suspicious movement in upper Sildhar and the adjoining areas of Ranjati top and Rousouwali top, a joint party of the police, Army and CRPF launched a cordon-andsearch operation in the upper Sildhar forest, Ranjati top, Rousowali top and the adjoining Dagantop hills areas early in the morning, they said, adding that during the search, an underground hideout was found. A huge cache of arms and ammunition, including an AK47 rifle with two magazines and 150 cartridges, a rocket launcher, 16 UBGL grenades, four hand grenades, besides two VHF radio sets with antennas were seized from the terrorist hideout, the officials said. "The timely recovery of the huge cache of arms and ammunition has thwarted any possible untoward incident in the otherwise peaceful region and scuttled the nefarious plans of terror outfits to derail peace and harmony in the region south of the Pir Panjal ranges," an official said. A case under the Explosives Act and other relevant sections of law has been registered at the Mahore police station and a probe has been launched. Meanwhile, security forces launched a cordon and search operation in Poonch district and recovered four grenades and ammunition, officials said. A joint search operation was launched in Mendhar belt based on disclosure of Sher Ali, a coordinator and facilitator of terror activities of various groups who was arrested from Jammu airport earlier this month, they said. During the operation, four grenades, 15 pistol bullets and 10 rounds of AK 47 were recovered, the officials said. In a related development, security forces arrested two overground workers (OWGs) of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terror group in Bandipora district, police said. "Acting on specific information, police, Army and CRPF apprehended two terrorist associates of proscribed terrorist outfit LeT at Bonikhan Mohalla of Hajin Town," a police spokesman said. He said the security forces recovered arms, ammunition from their possession which include two hand grenades and eight live rounds of AK 47. Those arrested have been identified as Ghulam Mohi-uddin Khan son of Nazir Ahmad Khan resident of Paribal Hajin and Riyaz Ahmad Bhat son of Abdul Ahad Bhat resident of Bonikhan Mohalla Hajin, the spokesman said. "On preliminary inquiry, it was revealed that the accused were associated with LeT and were providing shelter, logistics and other material support to active terrorists of the LeT in Sumbal and Hajin area," he said. Accordingly, a case vide FIR No.16/2021 under relevant sections of law has been registered in Police Station Hajin and further investigation has been taken up.

Courtesy: State Times : 27th February 2021