Abid Bashir
Srinagar (NVI): Security forces today averted a Pulwama-like terror attack as they recovered 416 highly explosive gelatin sticks, weighing around 42 kgs, and 50 detonators from two plastic water tanks in Awantipora area of J&K’s Pulwama district.
A senior police official said that the explosives recovered today could have been used for a similar attack on the highway or elsewhere. “By recovering huge number of gelatin sticks, we have been able to avert major tragedy,” the police official said.
Last year, on February 14, at Lethpora area of Pulwama district, Jaish-e-Muhammad terrorist Adil Dar rammed an explosive-laden car into a CRPF convoy in a fidayeen attack, killing 40 CRPF personnel on the spot.
A police spokesman in a detailed statement said that acting on a tipoff about the presence of Jaish-e-Mohammad militants, the J&K Police, Army’s 42 RR regiment and 130 BN of CRPF conducted a joint search in the nursery area near forests of Gadikhal village in Awantipora.
“During the search of the forest area, two explosive dumps were found which were concealed underground in two different 250 liters plastic tanks,” the spokesman said.
“In one plastic tank, 416 high explosive gelatin sticks were kept concealed and were recovered. In another plastic tank, 50 detonators were recovered. The detonators were destroyed by the Bomb Disposal Squad on the spot, due to their risk of carrying/transporting.”
“By virtue of this recovery, security forces have been able to avert some major militant attack by means of explosive substances,” the police spokesman said.
A case under relevant sections of the Unlawful Activity Act has been registered at Police Station Awantipora and investigation has been taken up, the spokesman said. `
-ARK
