Security Forces Bust Kishtwar Forest Hideout, Seize Arms and Explosives

Overview

• Security forces uncovered a militant hideout in the Dharbi Bajmandoo woods of Sigdi Bhata in Kishtwar’s Chhatroo sector.
• The push was a joint effort by the Army’s 11 Rashtriya Rifles and the Kishtwar police’s Special Operations Group after weeks of combing across Dolgam, Janseer and Kandwar.
• Troops seized a carbine, a pistol, an under-barrel grenade launcher with one round, four electric detonators, 115 live rounds, about one kilogram of PEK explosive, and three radio sets.
• Officials said the cache points to an organized network able to sustain strikes, building on recent encounters that killed four Jaish-e-Mohammed operatives in the same belt.
• The operation is still under way as teams search for more material, and police had not filed a formal case yet because the sweep was ongoing.