Sopore, Dec 02, TEN Network | Authorities on Sunday recovered a Russian satellite phone from a hideout used by terrorists in north Kashmir.
Officials said security forces on Sunday busted a militant hideout in Baramulla district of north Kashmir and seized a cache of arms and ammunition.
Along with weapons, other items and a satellite phone was also recovered in the joint operation conducted by Army and CRPF.
Police said the hideout was uncovered in Radiabad area of Sopore in north Kashmir.
A police official said fully-automatic “AK rifles”, 2,000 rounds of bullets for the automatic rifles, three rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs), two wireless sets and a satellite phone were recovered.
“The operation was jointly conducted by 32 RR (Rashtriya Rifles), Special Operation Group (SOG) Rafiabad & 92 battalions of CRPF (Central Reserve Police Force),” a senior police officer said.
A case was registered and the incriminating material was seized police. An investigation is underway. The terrorists hideout is believed to be very old as clothes and ammunition recovered from it were torn and rusted.
The bust comes hours after Pakistan violated ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu-Kashmir for a second consecutive day. The Indian Army said Pakistan targeted forward posts along the LoC
This comes days after the J&K police claimed that satellites phones were being used by terrorists to stay in touch with each other and their handlers amid the prevailing shutdown in Kashmir.
Jammu and Kashmir is currently under President’s rule. The assembly of the erstwhile state was dissolved on November 2018 after the ruling coalition between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) fell apart in June 2018.
The Valley has remained under lockdown for nearly four months since the abrogation of the Article 370 by the BJP-led Centre and a sweeping crackdown on not just militants but even mainstream parties like National Conference and Peoples Democratic Party with former chief ministers Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti under detention.
An array of political leaders, businessmen, lawyers, activists and others have also been confined to Srinagar’s MLA hostel which has been declared as a sub-jail by the UT administration. According to reports, some of these leaders were allowed to make brief visits to their homes while some may be released as well. (BK)
