Security Forces Unearth Terror Hideout in Poonch, Recover Arms; Searches Underway in Jammu, Kathua
JAMMU: Security forces on Wednesday busted a terrorist hideout in a remote village in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district, recovering a cache of ammunition. The operation was carried out by joint teams based on specific intelligence inputs about suspicious activity, officials said.
The hideout, located in a cave in Bhoriwala dhok in Surankote tehsil, was discovered during a cordon-and-search operation conducted by the Army's Rashtriya Rifles and J&K Police. Troops seized two magazines of an AK assault rifle, 117 rounds of ammunition, and 17 rounds of 9mm pistol ammunition from the spot. No arrests have been reported so far, and the area remains under surveillance.
In a separate incident, a suspected Pakistani drone was spotted hovering over the forward villages of Shukhmal, Devindera, and Tapan in the Bobiyan area of Kathua's Hiranagar sector around 2 pm on Tuesday. Border Security Force (BSF) personnel attempted to shoot down the unmanned aerial vehicle, but it was flying at a high altitude and managed to return across the border. A subsequent search of the area did not yield any suspicious items, officials said.
Meanwhile, a joint team of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and J&K Police conducted another search operation from Parshuram Temple to Jandi Nallah in Hiranagar as part of an area-domination exercise. This was aimed at reassuring local residents and maintaining a visible security presence, officials added.
In Jammu's Akhnoor sector, the Army and J&K Police launched a combing operation in the Sunail Panchayat area after a resident reported suspicious movement on Tuesday. The operation was still underway at the time of reporting, with no contact established.
Separately, cordon-and-search operations launched Tuesday in two locations in Poonch district continued without any sighting or contact with terror suspects allegedly present in the area. According to officials, three suspects were seen near Gujjar Naar area, and four more were spotted close to Kherowali dhok in the remote Dhara Sangla village in Surankote sector. Security forces are maintaining a tight cordon and conducting systematic searches.
These operations come amid heightened security alert along the International Border and the Line of Control. Authorities have been conducting regular searches to prevent infiltration and terrorist activities, particularly in the border districts of Jammu, Kathua, and Poonch. The public has been urged to report any suspicious movement to security agencies.
Further details on the ongoing operations are awaited as security forces continue their efforts to ensure the safety of the region.
