Major guerrilla hideout busted in Kashmir

A major guerrilla hideout was busted Sunday in the hilly Kishtwar district of Jammu and Kashmir and a large cache of arms and ammunition seized, a defence official said.

"In another blow to militancy, a joint team of Rashtriya Rifles and Jammu and Kashmir police carried out a massive search operation in village Darna of Bimalnag area of Kishtwar district and busted a massive militant hideout there," a defence spokesman said here.

He said the village has been a stronghold of Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) outfit for the past 20 years.

"The joint operation was carried out based on a tip-off from a local source. Security forces recovered seven weapons including two AK rifles, a 9 mm carbine machine gun, two pistols, two revolvers, 3,254 rounds of assorted ammunition, six UBGL grenades, 73 hand grenades and five radio sets, which apparently belong to terrorist Jahangir of HM, hailing from the same area," said the spokesman, terming the seizure "a major setback to the nefarious designs of the HM".

"This joint operation highlights the resolute intention of the security forces to restore peace in Kishtwar district," he added.