J&K Police SOG Recovers Rifle, Ammunition in Doda Forest Operation
Arms seizure seen as major boost to regional security; probe underway
- SOG Doda recovers SLR rifle, two magazines and 22 live rounds during search in Bhalara forest
- Operation conducted under supervision of SSP Sandeep Mehta based on specific intelligence
- Police say seizure strengthens security grid and prevents misuse by anti-national elements
- Comes weeks after major raids in Shopian linked to banned Jamaat-e-Islami under UAPA
GG News Bureau
Jammu, 8th Dec: The Special Operation Group (SOG) of the Jammu and Kashmir Police achieved a major breakthrough on Sunday after recovering arms and ammunition during a coordinated search operation in the Bhalara forest area under Police Station Thathri in Doda district, officials said.
The operation, carried out under the supervision of SSP Doda Sandeep Mehta, was launched following specific intelligence inputs. During the search, the SOG team recovered one SLR rifle, two magazines and 22 live rounds from the forested belt.
According to the police release, the recovery marks a significant step toward strengthening the security grid in the region and preventing the potential misuse of weapons by anti-social or anti-national elements. It said the operation once again underscores the Jammu and Kashmir Police’s commitment to maintaining peace, stability and public safety in Doda.
A probe has been initiated to determine the origin of the recovered weapon and identify those responsible for concealing it.
The development comes weeks after the Shopian police conducted major raids across the district, targeting individuals and premises linked to the banned Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) organisation. The group, proscribed under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), has been repeatedly banned for its alleged separatist activities and links with militant outfits such as Hizbul Mujahideen. The most recent ban, imposed in 2019, was extended for another five years in February 2024.
Jamaat-e-Islami traces its origins to 1941, when it was founded in British India by Islamic scholar Syed Abul A’la Maududi. After Partition, it split into separate entities in India and Pakistan.
