An Improvised Explosive Device(IED) on Sopore-Bandipora road at Ashtangoo, has been destroyed by security forces, officials said.
A defence spokesperson said, “Based on intelligence received from JKP and further corroborated by Indian Army, regarding presence of an Improvised Explosive Device in General Area Astingoo on Bandipora-Sopore road, a Joint Operation was launched by Indian Army and JKP on the intervening night of 14 and 15 Oct 2022.”
The spokesman said that search parties were immediately deployed and an area of 300 mtr radius was cordoned by security forces. During the search, presence of an IED was positively confirmed at about 08.35 AM on 15 Oct 2022 by the search party. The IED was in close proximity of Bandipora-Sopore road. An Indian Army Bomb Disposal squad was rushed in to the location to neutralise the IED. The bomb disposal squad destroyed the IED in situ without any collateral damage.
Bandipora-Sopore highway is an important line of communication for civil traffic as well as for the Army and CAPF convoys. Security forces with their swift operation have averted a major terror plot by timely neutralisation of the IED. The traffic which was halted on the highway for initial hours, which has now been resumed.