Huge cache for arms recovered in Keran, Army taking appropriate measures

SRINAGAR/NEW DELHI: A huge cache of arms and war-like stores were recovered by troops battling holed up terrorists in the Keran sector along the LoC in Kashmir for the 14th day today even as the Union Government said Army was taking "appropriate" necessary measures.

An External Affairs Ministry spokesperson said further necessary action, as appropriate, will be taken if required based on the assessment of the current operations against the terrorists who infiltrated from across the Line of Control.

"We conducted search operations in the sector and recovered war-like stores of arms and ammunitions," Officiating Brigadier General Staff (BGS) Col Sanjay Mitra told reporters in Srinagar.

He said the recoveries include seven AK-47 rifles, four pistols, one sniper refle, 20 UBGL grenades, two radio-sets and other war-like stores. Some medicines and food items were also recovered, he said.

Army had yesterday recovered three AK rifles, 10 pistols, five radio-sets and other items after the search operations in the sector, Col Mitra said. He did not take any questions.

In New Delhi, Government said maintenance of sanctity of LoC was of "primary importance" and asserted that after assessment, if required, it will take the matter further in the operations against the teorrists.

"We have repeatedly emphasised that the maintenance of sanctity of Line of Control is of primary importance. Even at the last meeting between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, this issue was re- emphasised.

"As regard to the current situation, our armed forces who are responsible of sanctity undertaking currently appropriate necessary measures....Based on the outcome of those efforts, we will take the further necessary action, as appropriate," the Spokesperson in the External Affairs Ministry said

He also said if at the outcome of the efforts by the Army, there was a requirement for India "to take this further ahead, we will do so" after making an assessment.

Asked when will the Directors General of Military Operations of India and Pakistan will meet to ease border tensions in the Kashmir region, as was agreed in the meeting between Singh and Sharif, he said the DGMOs talk every Tuesday and the meeting will depend on their telephonic conversation.

The Army launched a massive anti-infiltration operation in Shalbhatti village in Keran Sector on September 24 after noticing a group of 30 to 40 militants trying to sneak into the Valley.

In its 14th day today, the operation is on in a vast area along the LoC and so far seven militants have been killed -- three in Gujjardoor village on Friday and four in Fateh Gali area of the sector on Saturday.