Rajouri, July 22): Goverenment forces Wednesday claimed to have achieved a major success by busting a militant hideout in Thanamandi area of Rajouri district and recovering a Pika Gun besides arms and ammunition.

Officials said that the joint operation was launched by J&K police and army’s Thanamandi based 38 RR and the recovery was made during a Cordon and Search Operation (CASO) from a militant hideout in Manyal area.

Senior Superintendent of Police Rajouri, Chandan Kohli said that an information was received by police regarding an old militant hideout in Manyal area of Thanamandi after which teams of Rajouri police, Special Operation Group and 38 Rashtriya Rifles launched a Cordon and Search Operation late night Tuesday.

“The entire area was kept under cordon and in the wee hours of Wednesday morning, searches were launched during which a militant hideout established under a portion of dense bush cover was busted,” the SSP told KNO, adding that from the hide out, forces recovered 01 Pika Rifle, 01 Chinese Pistol, 01 Local Pistol, 01 AK Magazines, 02 Pistol Magazines, 168 Pika rounds, 47 AK rounds, 04 pistol rounds, 02 UBGL grenades, 01 Binocular, 08 Ammunition belts, 01 Antenna and 01 Tape recorder have been recovered from the hideout busted during operation.

“The area is still under searches and SDPO Thanamandi Sajjad Khan along with SHO Fareed Ahmed and officers of army’s Rashtriya Rifles are monitoring the operation further,” SSP said—(KNO)