In a significant breakthrough, security forces on Monday recovered a large cache of arms and ammunition from a destroyed terrorist hideout in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district, just days after the devastating terror attack in Pahalgam that claimed 26 lives.
According to official sources, a joint operation involving the Army, J&K Police, and the Special Operations Group (SOG) led to the discovery of five ready-to-use IEDs (Improvised Explosive Devices), wireless communication sets, and clothing from the remote hideout. The IEDs, ranging from 0.5 kg to 5 kg, were found concealed in steel buckets and tiffin boxes, a common tactic used to avoid detection.
The devices were safely destroyed in a controlled explosion, effectively thwarting a potential series of attacks aimed at destabilizing the region, particularly the sensitive border district of Poonch.
This operation comes as part of a larger security clampdown across Jammu and Kashmir, following the April 22 attack in Pahalgam. On Sunday, IGP Kashmir VK Birdi chaired a high-level joint review meeting involving top brass from the police, Army, intelligence agencies, and CAPFs. The meeting assessed existing threats and emerging challenges in the Valley’s security landscape.
In response to the attack, India has taken a firm stance against Pakistan, believed to be backing proxy terror groups. Measures announced include:
- Deportation of Pakistani nationals from Indian soil
- Closure of the Attari-Wagah border crossing
- Suspension of the Indus Water Treaty
- Airspace closure for Pakistani commercial aircraft
- Total cancellation of trade and cultural exchanges
Additionally, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has granted operational freedom to the armed forces, signaling a strong retaliatory approach in the days ahead.
Security has been intensified throughout the Union Territory, with new checkpoints, the deployment of Quick Reaction Teams (QRTs), and heightened surveillance at hotels, highways, tourist spots, and key installations, aiming to preempt any further attacks.
