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770 kg of RDX, plastic explosive recovered in J&K

Mukhtar Ahmad in Srinagar

The army has recovered a huge cache of explosives, consisting of 770 kg of RDX and plastic explosive after a three-day operation in the hilly regions of Thangmarg in north Kashmir.

This is the single largest haul of explosives recovered in Kashmir Valley in the nine years of militancy. Troops of the 8, mountain division of the army combed the difficult hilly terrain overlooking Thangmarg.

Earlier on October 13, troops in the same area had unearthed another large dump of 110 kgs of explosive, 40 hand grenades, 500 metre of cordex and a large number of electronic detonators and improvised explosive devices. Spokesperson Major Purshottam said 885 kg of explosives had been recovered in total from the hilly terrain overlooking the hilly resort of Thangmarg. The 770 kg of explosives recovered now were kept in large wooden boxes.

The three feet deep underground dump was built up over a period and kept under frequent observation by militant groups. The explosives were meant for selected targets in Srinagar and south Kashmir -- including VVIP's, government buildings and public places, the spokesperson said, adding that these were also to be used in car bombs.

Meanwhile troops conducted massive house-to-house operations in village Palhallan Pattan on the Uri-Srinagar highway.

Residents were brought out on an open ground and identification parades were conducted. The searches in the area followed yesterday's killing of two soldiers on patrol duty at Pattan by unidentified militants who also took away their automatic weapons. Security arrangements have been further tightened in the Pattan area following a series of incidents. More troops and policemen have been deployed in the town to maintain law and order.

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