Current Affairs

Army today foiled militants' plan to target the ongoing Amarnath yatra by recovering a large quantity of arms and ammunition near Jammu-Srinagar highway in Banihal area of Ramban district.

During a search operartion in general area of Aramnakh in Banihal, the army recovered a gunny bag hidden in a hollow of a tree around 7.30am today, a defence spokesperson said in Jammu.

On opening the bag, troops recovered 34 detonators, 12 anti-personnel mines, 9 RC IED boxes, 36 IED circuits, 5 RPG charges, 36m of safety fuse, 15m of cordex wire, one UBGL grenade, one hand grenade, 36 pika rounds and one radio set, he said.

The spokesperson said that the main motive of the terrorists in all probability appears to be to plant these explosives and IEDs to disrupt the ongoing Amarnath Yatra and vehicular movement on the national highway to further aggravate the ongoing political crisis in the state.

The recovery has averted a major tragedy which could have resulted in massive loss of life and property, he said, adding besides this could have large ramifications on the growing state of unrest being witnessed in the Valley.