[Reader-list] Another plot to target Amarnath yatra foiled

[Aditya Raj Kaul]

*Another plot to target yatra foiled*

Excelsior Correspondent

*POONCH, Aug 1: *Yet another plot by Hizbul Mujahideen militant outfit to
target ongoing Budda Amarnath yatra in this district has been foiled by Army
and police with the recovery of a large quantity of arms and explosives
including 20 kg RDX.

This was second plot of Hizbul Mujahideen which has been thwarted by Army
and police to attack Budda Amarnath yatris in Mandi belt in less than a
week.

Official sources said a joint team of 8 Mahar and Poonch police launched a
search operation in Sabjian forests of this border district after developing
a specific information that militants of Hizbul Mujahideen outfit had dumped
a large quantity of arms and explosives in the forests to target Budda
Amarnath yatra, which had been going on smoothly for last about one week.

During searches, security forces came across a make shift hide-out of the
militants and destroyed it. From the hide-out, police recovered 20 kg deadly
RDX explosive, two AK-47 rifles, one Pika gun, one pistol, 20 Chinese
grenades, two Rocket Propelled Guns (RPGs), 136 Pika bullets, 44 AK rounds,
one mobile phone, one battery charger, one buoynet, one pouch, a large bag
and some documents of Hizbul Mujahideen outfit.

After effecting the recoveries, Army and police launched a search operation
for the militants in Sabjian forests. However, no arrests were made from the
area but possibility of militants’ presence in the forests has not been
ruled out. Searches were still on in the area.

Only few days back, Army and police had recovered a large quantity of
explosive material from Mandi forests which too had been dumped by Hizbul
Mujahideen outfit to target Budda Amarnath yatris.

Budda Amarnath yatra in this district had begun last week and will conclude
on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan.

Security forces and police have made tight security arrangements for Budda
Amarnath yatris at the holy shrine as well as the route taken by the
pilgrims.

Intercepts have also revealed that the militants of Hizbul Mujahideen outfit
were planning to target Budda Amarnath yatris. However, their all attempts
have been foiled due to the alertness displayed by Army and police in the
routes surrounding Budda Amarnath yatra.

Following recovery of 20 kg RDX and 20 powerful grenades besides other arms
and ammunition, security at Budda Amarnath shrine and the route taken by the
pilgrims has been further intensified, sources said.