IED; grenades recovered, SPO killed in J

Jammu, Feb 15 (UNI) Security forces today recovered a cache of ammunition including Improvised Explosive Device (IED) and three hand grenades after busting two militant hideouts in twins districts while a Special Police Officer (SPO) was killed in avalanche in Kishtwar district of Jammu and Kashmir, official sources here said.

On a tip off, SSR, Police, 60 Rashtriya Rifles, 17 Punjab and CRPF launched a joint search operation in village Morha and Telian in tehsil Kandi of Rajouri district.

''Two hideouts were busted while one IED, 271 AK rounds, 77 Pika rounds, 20 rounds of 7.62 mm, three hand grenades, two fire fight Pika rounds, one AK 47 rifle, two magazines, one pouch, eight pencil cells, and one torch were recovered from the sites,'' sources told UNI.

Meanwhile troops of SSR recovered arms and ammunition during routine checking near Railway track at village Sapwal in Samba district. ''One RPG marked DZGI-40,5-88-22, one shell, 105 mm marked as IPGPLL9 along with 42 cartridges of SLR were recovered from the area,'' they said.

However, one Special Police Officer (SPO) identified as Bansi Lal died during a sudden avalanche at Maghli Gam in district Kishtwar while performing his duty. ''Four SPOs including the deceased left for the post. When he reached Maghli Gam, an avalanche hit him and he was buried alive,'' official sources said.

UNI VBH AM KN2003