500 kg of RDX recovered
Tribune News Service

SRINAGAR, Oct 21 — The Army recovered about 500 kg of RDX in the Tangmarg area of Baramula district yesterday. This is the largest single haul of explosives recovered in the valley during anti-militant operations so far.

A defence spokesman here said that detailed investigations and analysis revealed that this explosive was intended for select targets in Srinagar and south Kashmir, which included VVIPs, government buildings and public places. Reports also indicate its intended use in car bombs, the spokesman added.

The three-foot deep underground dump was stocked over a period and the RDX stacked in 10-15 kg bags. The dump in Badrakut jungles near Tangmarg in north Kashmir district of Baramula had been kept under frequent observation by certain militant groups. RDX is used to make IEDs and at least 80 to 100 IEDs (improvised explosive device) could have been produced with the quantum of RDX recovered, the spokesman said.

The dump housed 500 kg of RDX and 270 kg of plastic explosive in large wooden boxes.

Earlier, on October 13 in the same area the Army had unearthed another dump of 110 kg of explosive, 40 hand grenades, 500 meters of cordex and a number of electronic detonators and IEDs. Thus the total explosive found was 885 kg.

Elsewhere in the valley at least nine persons, including five militants were killed in separate incidents of violence since yesterday.

An Army spokesman here today said that five persons including two Armymen and two militants were killed in an encounter at Bomiyal near Uri in Baramula district. Those killed have been identified as Lt Joga Singh and a jawan, Kulwant Singh.

Giving details about the operation, the spokesman said that the troops raided a hideout at 3 a.m. last night. Two militants and a civilian were killed in the house where the militants were hiding.

The two Armymen were killed in an explosion that took place during the encounter. Two jawans were injured in the encounter. They have been shifted to the hospital here for treatment.

Two foreign militants were killed in an encounter with the security forces at Matipora, Ajas in Baramula district, police here said. Another militant was killed in an encounter with security forces at Goripora in Tangmarg area of Baramula district in an encounter with the security forces.

Unidentified militants shot dead a school teacher in Anantnag. He has been identified as Ghulam Mohammad.