The operation has resulted in a massive haul of arms and ammunition including one missile, two UMGs, one sniper rifle, one rocket projectile gun, six radio sets, more than 100 kg of RDX, thousands of rounds of assorted ammunition, improvised explosive devices and other weapons, he said. The spokesman said the seek-and-destroy operation ``flush out'' was launched by the troops of 8 RR, 10 RR and national security guards.

On the very first day, Major Arvind Yadav of 8 RR shot dead the chief coordinator of the Hizbul Mujahideen outfit, Mohd Lone alias Hataf, in the jungle of Bagla, 8 km north of Doda. The troops recovered one AK-47 rifle and a wireless set from them. Later, the blackcat commandos of NSG, under the command of Maj R Gurung, cordoned off a militant hideout in adjoining Daldraman forest. Spotting troops, the ultras tried to escape, but were shot dead. They were later identified as Bilal and Zuber, both foreign mercenaries belonging to LeT outfit. The spokesman said that in Bhadargwadi village, Maj C M Baby with his troops chased an ultra and made contact with the other column under Maj Anshuman operating in Dal Draman forest, which blocked the escape routes. In a massive exchange of fire, ultra Mohd Aslam alias MD, an IED expert of LeT, was killed.

Troops of 10 RR were simultaneously pressed into areas of Kastigarh, north of Doda town. One commando team under Maj K R Srivastava was searching through the areas of Pathi and Dhandal Nalah, a tributary of Chenab river. They noticed some footprints leading to a natural hide-out. A search confirmed the presence of ultras, who were then asked to surrender. But when one of the militants came out firing with his automatic gun, hewas shot dead by the troops.

While another ultra kept on firing from the hide-out, Maj Srivastava crawled to the hide-out and eliminated the militant with his AK rifle. The slain ultras were identified as Abu Ukuba and Abu Saraka, both from Pakistan, belonging to LeT. Two AK rifles, one missile, one wireless set and a huge cache of ammunition and explosives were recovered from the hide-out, he added.

Sector Commander Brig S C Sharma personally coordinated the operations, ordered arrest of suspects and interrogation by special teams positioned at Bharat and Kastigarh area. Interrogation of a large number of suspects resulted in a massive recovery of arms and ammunition, including two UMGs, one sniper rifle, one RPG launcher, one pistol, six rockets, twenty grenades, 1000 rounds of assorted ammunition and 100 kgs of RDX, 50 metres of cordex wire, 162 detonators, seven IEDs, three anti-personnel mines and other weapons, the spokesman said.