Forces Bust High-Altitude Jaish Hideout in Kishtwar
Underground terror bunker found at 12,000 feet in Singhpora; search operation continues ahead of Republic Day
- Security forces uncover Jaish-e-Mohammad hideout in Kishtwar
- Bunker could house four terrorists with supplies for weeks
- One Army havildar killed, seven injured in earlier firefight
- Area sealed as joint teams intensify combing operations
GG News Bureau
Kishtwar, 19th Jan: Security forces achieved a major breakthrough on Monday after busting a sophisticated underground hideout of Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorists at an altitude of around 12,000 feet in the Singhpora area of Chhatroo in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar district.
The concealed bunker, carved into the mountain with multiple entry and exit points, was capable of sheltering more than four terrorists at a time. According to officials, it was stocked with essential supplies including food grains, cooking gas, desi ghee, cereals, blankets and other survival items, indicating long-term use.
The discovery is part of the ongoing “Operation Trashi-I,” launched on Sunday on the basis of specific intelligence inputs regarding terrorist movement in the area. The operation follows a fierce encounter in which Havildar Gajendra Singh was killed in action and seven other security personnel were injured during a firefight with terrorists.
After uncovering the hideout, security forces intensified the cordon-and-search operation across the rugged terrain. Multiple teams of the Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police, and paramilitary forces are operating jointly, assisted by drones, sniffer dogs and technical surveillance to track any remaining militants.
Authorities said vigilance has been further heightened in view of the upcoming Republic Day celebrations, with efforts focused on preventing any attempt by terror groups to disrupt peace in the region.
The Kishtwar operation comes days after a significant counter-terror crackdown in Kathua district last week, where security forces busted three Jaish-e-Mohammad hideouts following an overnight exchange of fire.
Police said that during the Kathua raid, two empty M4 cartridges, a plastic box containing desi ghee, a packet of almonds, gloves, a cap, blankets, a tarpaulin sheet and other materials were recovered from the first hideout.
From the other two hideouts, security teams seized a cooking gas cylinder, cooking oil, charger wire, utensils, an empty oil can, large plastic bags, a torch, blankets and wrappers of food items, among other supplies.
Security officials said the recoveries show that the terror group had established well-planned logistical bases in the Jammu region, but reiterated that sustained operations would continue until the network is fully dismantled.
