Kulgam encounter: Security forces seize explosives; militants escape

Security forces had launched a cordon and search operation in the Damhal Hanjipora area during the night after receiving specific information about the presence of militants there

Security forces seized materials used in making improvised explosive device (IED) and one PIKA LMG after an encounter with militants in Jammu & Kashmir's Kulgam district on Saturday morning.

The encounter was reported after security forces launched a cordon and search operation in the Damhal Hanjipora area of the south Kashmir district during the night after receiving specific information about the presence of militants there, informed a police official. As forces were conducting searches in the area, militants opened fire on them. An encounter ensued as the security forces retaliated, he said.
 
"On a credible input an operation was launched with Army & Central Armed Police Forces last night at Nandimarg, Kulgam. Some exchange of fire took place immediately, laying cordon of the target houses. It seems that militants ran away in initial firing itself," said the J&K Police. One PIKA LMG and material for making improvised explosive device (IED) had been found from house of one Aslam. Now a sniffer dog is being used for tracking down the escaped militants, the police said. 


A day before, the Indian Army had shelled a terrorist launch pad and an ammunition dump across the de facto border in Jammu and Kashmir, shelling Pakistan for allegedly breaking an informal ceasefire between the two countries.
 

"There are reports of heavy damage on enemy side,” a government spokesperson had said in Srinagar. India had responded after being attacked in Keran Sector of Kupwara district, he had added.
 
TV news channel NDTV had shown drone camera footage released by the Indian Army, apparently showing Pakistani targets ablaze. Indian soldiers didn’t cross the Line of Control (LoC) — as the de facto border is called — in the military action, media reports said.
 
News agency PTI, quoting unnamed police officials, had reported that Pakistan violated the ceasefire in Uri area of Baramulla district, too. Six Indian security personnel were injured in Sunderbani-Nowshera sector of Rajouri district last week when Pakistan fired at them.
 
All through the week, Pakistan has fired small arms and mortar shells along the LoC in Poonch district.