Abid Bashir
Srinagar (NVI): A huge cache of arms and ammunition, including two M-16 rifles, that were used by the US army in 1965 Vietnam war, was recovered during a cordon and search operation in Duljana area along the Line of Control (LoC) in Uri of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district.
A defence official said that a joint team of Army’s 8RR unit and Jammu and Kashmir police launched a cordon and search operation in Duljana forest after receiving credible inputs about the presence of arms and ammunition in the area.
“During search operation, huge quantity of arms and ammunition including two M 16 Rifles and pistols were recovered,” the officials said. It is pertinent to mention here that in 1965, US army used M-16 rifles during the Vietnam war in forests.
An army official said that on September 9, a credible input was received from J&K Police regarding presence of a cache of small arms in general area, Dulanja in Uri.
He said that after deliberate planning, a specific search was launched in general area Dulanja Infantry Safe Line (ISL) by a team that continued throughout the day. “The searches culminated in the recovery of War-like stores in general area cutting on September 10,” he said.
The arms and ammunition recovered during the searches include two M-16 Rifles, two Pistols, four Magazines (M-16 Rifle), and four magazines (Pistols), the officer said.
Meanwhile, a senior police official said that a case in this regard has been registered and further investigation has been taken up. “We are trying to work on leads as to how these weapons had reached the Dulanja area and for whom the consignment was meant,” the official said.
-ARK
