Jammu, Aug 14 (UNI) Ahead of Independence Day celebrations, security forces on Saturday morning recovered an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) and destroyed it in the Kishtwar district of Jammu and Kashmir.

A senior police officer here said that Security Forces early morning on Saturday recovered an IED close to Kuriya Village in Kishtwar District and subsequently destroyed it in situ.

“Due to the forthcoming Independence Day, security measures were heightened in Kishtwar District and as a part of routine a joint patrol party of the Army and Police discovered a suspicious-looking package along the road from Koriya to Shergwari in the early hours,” he said.

The officer added that the package contained a tubular container and a bottle of petrol attached to it.

“The patrol party immediately cordoned off the area and explosive detector dogs were brought in to confirm the presence of explosives,” he said adding that on confirmation of the same, the IED was destroyed in situ by experts.

Sources stated that the road is used by the locals and security forces and it was intended by inimical elements to cause damage and disturbance in the area.

It is also learnt that the IED is similar to one earlier recovered in Doda District commonly called sticky bombs.

An FIR has been registered in this regard and security forces are investigating the case to ascertain more details and identify the perpetrators.

The investigation has been further taken up, said the officer.

UN