Jammu: Twenty four terrorists were killed and six others apprehended while war-like stores of arms and ammunition were recovered in several operations conducted by the Army in tandem with other security forces since last week.

"Apart from killing 24 terrorists in various operations, the troops also apprehended six of them while two others surrendered during the period, a Defence spokesman said, adding the recoveries included 38 AK-type rifles, nine pistols, one sniper rifle, four rocket launchers and 18 kilograms of explosives.

The Army maintained relentless pressure on terrorists through ambushes, aggressive patrolling, search operations and joint operations with other security forces based on specific information in the state from September 13 to 19, he said.

As many as 55 planned actions have been launched by the Army as counter-terrorism operations with a fair degree of success not only in the matter of terrorists kills but also in the recovery of war-like stores of arms and ammunition, apprehensions and surrenders.

The actions of terrorists during the week have been uncoordinated and they were also geographically isolated, he said adding however, they triggered three Improvised Explosive Device (IED) blasts and four grenade attacks during the period in which 24 innocent civilians were killed and 14 others injured.

Fourteen innocent civilians have been killed in the most brutal manner as against 10 in the preceding week from September 6 to 13, he said.

However, the Army and other security forces are alert to foil the designs of the ultras despite their continued efforts to raise the level of violence, the spokesman said.

PTI