New Delhi:
As Srinagar tries to shake off the tension of the past week, the Army and police have recovered a massive consignment of explosives intended for terrorists from the Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT). It's one of the biggest recoveries ever, says the police - 165 kg of explosives.
A search operation by the police and Army ended at a cave in the Kishtwar district. 75 kilos of explosives and six IEDs (Improvised Explosive Devices) of 15 kg each, all carrying an LeT stamp.
The police has launched a massive search for LeT terrorists believed to be hiding in the forests of Kishtwar.
The police believes this is the Lashkar's attempt to take advantage of the volatile situation in the Valley. Srinagar is under curfew. The Army is on the periphery of the city to function, in the words of the government, "as a deterrent." A series of civilian deaths in the last few weeks, all during clashes between protesters and security forces, led to a new cycle of violence in the city, prompting Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to request that the Army be sent to Srinagar. Home Minister P Chidambaram has said that he hopes the Army will "not have to stay very long."