Nearly one million AK bullets seized from militants in state in 13 years

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, June 28

In the last 13 years, the security forces have recovered nearly one million AK bullets and over 6,800 kg of the RDX explosive material from the possession of the militants and their hideouts during anti-insurgency operations.

The government forces have also confiscated over 11,000 AK rifles and pistols from the militants operating in different parts of the state.

Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, who holds charge of the Home also, gave these details in a written reply to a question raised by MLC Naresh Kumar Gupta in the Legislative Council.

Gupta had sought details about the arms and ammunition recovered from the militants during operations and from the hideouts by the police and other security agencies from January 2002 to December 31, 2015. He had also sought the numbers of first information reports (FIRs) registered in these incidents and also the number of accused arrested and challenged in the court throughout the state.

According to the details furnished by the Home Department, the police and security agencies had recovered 8,146 AK 47, AK 56 and AK 74 rifles during anti-militancy operations from different parts of the state.

During this period, the security agencies had also seized 2,877 pistols and revolvers from the militants and during raids at their hideouts, the official data revealed.

It also said that from January 1, 2002 to December 31, 2015, the security agencies also recovered 76 sniper rifles from the militants besides 20,158 hand grenades and 6,871.6 kg of highly explosive RDX material from them.

The recoveries during this period also include 9.938 lakh AK 47/56/74 rounds besides 38,688 pistol/revolver bullets. In addition, the security agencies have also recovered 24,372 magazines of AK 47/56/74 rifles and 2,899 pistol/revolver magazines.

“The arms and ammunition recovered by the police are kept in ‘Mal Khanas’ of the courts or district police lines and concerned police stations as case property,” the government stated in the written reply, adding that during this period 17,607 cases were also registered by the police, in which 6,330 persons were arrested.