Security forces in Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday claimed to have busted a terrorist hideout in the Kishtwar district. Officials said that a huge cache of arms, ammunition and explosive materials was seized during the search operation.

The operation was conducted in the Chatroo region, and covered areas like Dolgam, Janseer and Kandwar, where forces unearthed the hideout in the dense Bajmandoo forest of the Sigdi Bhata area.

Arms linked to commander eliminated by forces earlier

Officials aware of the development said that the hideout is being believed to have been used by a terrorist commander, whom the security forces neutralised earlier. The recovery has been termed a major breakthrough in the ongoing anti-terror operations in the region.

Among the seized arms were a carbine gun and a pistol, each with a magazine, along with an under-barrel grenade launched (UBGL) round. Security sleuths also recovered four detonators, approximately one kilogram of explosive items and a huge quantity of live ammunition. Two Motorola radio sets were also among the seized items.

If the officials are to be believed, the presence of communication equipment suggests that the hideout may have been used for coordinated militant activities. Authorities who headed the operation reiterated that such operations shall be conducted in the future too, to dismantle the residual terror infrastructure across Jammu and Kashmir.

Counter-terror drill held at Srinagar Airport

In a parallel development, the CISF personnel, jointly coordinating with multiple agencies, including the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), local police, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) and the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), conducted a counter-terrorism mock drill at the Srinagar International Airport.

The exercise, according to officials, simulated real-time threat scenarios and tested response protocols, including procedures for evacuation, communication systems and inter-agency coordination.