Arms and ammunition recovered during the operation at Kupwara’s Kala Jungle. (Photo by special arrangement.)
Srinagar: The Indian Army and the Jammu & Kashmir Police launched a joint operation in the Kala Jungle general area along the line of control in the Kupwara district’s Machil sector, in the wee hours of Friday, the Army said. During the operation, four suspected militants were shot dead in an encounter that ensued after the troops challenged them.
In its statement, the Army said it detected suspicious movement of some people in the area near the LoC following which the troops began tracking them. At around 4.30am, four figures were observed crossing the LoC from the Pakistan-controlled side to Indian territory. Once they came within gunfire range, the Army and the J&K Police challenged them, upon which the suspected militants opened fire.
This led to retaliatory fire from the Indian troops and an intense firefight followed. In the encounter, all four suspected militants were killed. No Indian soldier or policeman was killed or injured in the firefight.
After the encounter was over, troops discovered a huge cache of arms and ammunition along with packets containing suspected narcotics in the area. This includes, nine AK series rifles, three pistols, four hand grenades, 288 Kalashnikov and pistol rounds, 55 packets of suspected narcotics, and other items.
Packets containing suspected narcotics recovered during the operation at Kupwara’s Kala Jungle. (Photo by special arrangement.)
The Army believes that the recovery of such a large cache of arms and ammunition as well as suspected narcotics points to a vicious Pakistani plan by using narcoterrorism to derail the existing peace in the Kashmir valley.
The Army said the operation is still going on with extensive search of the area being carried out.
