J&K: Terror Hideout Busted in Poonch, Arms Cache Recovered
Security forces recover IEDs, wireless set and AK-47 ammunition during joint operation in Surankote sector
JAMMU— Security forces on Saturday busted a suspected terror hideout in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district and recovered a cache of arms, ammunition and improvised explosive devices (IEDs), officials said.
The operation was conducted in the Draba area of the Surankote sector following specific intelligence inputs.
A joint team comprising the 16 Rashtriya Rifles (RR), the Special Operations Group (SOG) of the J&K Police and the 38 Battalion of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) launched a search operation in the area.
During the operation, the forces recovered one gamla-type IED, one gool-type IED, four small IEDs, one Motorola wireless set and seven AK-47 rounds, officials said.
Search operations in the area were continuing.
The latest recovery comes amid a series of counter-terror operations in Poonch and neighbouring Rajouri districts, where security forces have been conducting searches in forested and difficult-to-access terrain.
In recent operations in Poonch, joint teams of the Army and J&K Police’s SOG have busted several suspected militant hideouts in areas including Sawjian and Khanetar.
Those operations resulted in the recovery of hundreds of live machine-gun rounds, including Pika and general-purpose machine-gun ammunition, along with IEDs, hand grenades and AK-series rifles.
Security forces operating near the Line of Control (LoC) in sectors including Balakote and Mendhar have also recovered smuggled narcotics and foreign-origin pistols allegedly dropped across the border.
In neighbouring Rajouri district, security forces have simultaneously intensified anti-terror operations and security measures.
A major joint operation was launched by the Indian Army, J&K Police’s SOG and the CRPF in the Gambhir Mughlan and Dorimal forests of the Manjakote sector following an encounter in the dense forest terrain.
During the operation, troops deployed drones, helicopters and sniffer dogs to search for suspected foreign terrorists believed to be hiding in natural caves.
In a separate search operation in the Chamrer forest area of the Thanamandi division, Rashtriya Rifles personnel busted another suspected hideout and recovered a ready-to-use IED, along with clothing and essential food supplies.
Security forces also intercepted a hidden logistics cache in the Islampur Bhanghai area of Thanamandi containing survival materials, blankets, gas stoves and food items that officials said were intended to support terrorists in hiding.
Officials said the recoveries demonstrate the continuing efforts by security forces to dismantle suspected terror infrastructure and prevent attacks in the border districts of Poonch and Rajouri.
