BHADERWAH, March 23 – Security forces dismantled a militant hideout in the Bhalra forest area of Bhaderwah, Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir, recovering arms and ammunition during a routine search operation, official sources said on Sunday.
The operation, conducted on Saturday evening by a joint team of the Indian Army, the Special Operations Group (SOG), and local police, yielded one pistol, three magazines, and rounds of an AK assault rifle. The search was initiated based on specific intelligence regarding suspicious movements in the wooded region, according to officials.
“The discovery of the hideout points to ongoing efforts by militants to maintain a presence in the area,” a source familiar with the operation said, requesting anonymity due to the active investigation. Authorities are probing the origins of the weapons and possible connections to militant groups operating in the region.
The bust comes as security forces maintain a heightened state of alert across Jammu and Kashmir, with a parallel search operation currently underway in the Chatroo area of Kishtwar district. No additional recoveries have been reported from the Kishtwar operation as of Sunday.
The Bhalra forest, with its dense cover, has historically served as a refuge for militants seeking to evade detection. Saturday’s find underscores the challenges faced by security agencies in rooting out such threats in the rugged terrain of the Chenab Valley.
No suspects have been detained in connection with the hideout, but officials said the operation demonstrates their resolve to disrupt militant networks. Investigations are continuing, with further updates expected as the situation develops.
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The Chenab Times News Desk
