Security forces recovered a large cache of arms and ammunition during a cordon and search operation in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir. The recovery includes IEDs, grenades, pistols, and an electronic device, indicating a planned terror attack. Anti-terror operations have intensified post-Pahalgam terror strike.
In a major counter-terror operation, security forces on Thursday recovered a significant cache of arms and ammunition during a cordon and search operation (CASO) in the Khanetar Top area of Poonch district in Jammu and Kashmir. The recovery, made on the basis of specific intelligence inputs, has once again exposed the continued efforts of terror networks to revive militancy in the region.
According to security officials, the CASO was launched jointly by the Indian Army and Jammu & Kashmir Police following credible inputs regarding the presence of a terror consignment in the dense forested terrain of Khanetar Top. During the meticulous search operation, two pistols along with two magazines, 24 rounds of 9mm ammunition, one Under Barrel Grenade Launcher (UBGL), six hand grenades, two Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), and an electronic set were recovered.
Speaking to the media, a senior security official said, “The nature and quantity of the recovered arms suggest that they were intended for a major terror operation. The recovery of IEDs and electronic components points towards a planned attack, likely targeting security personnel or civilian installations.”
The official further added that such recoveries indicate the active involvement of Pakistan-backed terror outfits attempting to infiltrate weapons and explosives into Indian territory to destabilize peace and security in the Union Territory.
This development comes in the backdrop of heightened security measures across Jammu and Kashmir following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, where 26 civilians were brutally killed by terrorists affiliated with the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). The attack, carried out in the Baisaran meadow of Pahalgam, shocked the nation due to its barbarity and the selective targeting of victims based on religion.
In response, the Indian government, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has empowered the armed forces with a free hand to dismantle the entire ecosystem of terrorism. Sources confirmed that in the weeks following the Pahalgam massacre, Indian forces have executed multiple precise counter-terror strikes targeting terror infrastructure in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and across the border, including Muridke near Lahore, Bahawalpur, Kotli, and Muzaffarabad.
Meanwhile, intelligence agencies continue to monitor the extensive network of Over Ground Workers (OGWs) that aid terrorist movements. OGWs are responsible for providing logistical support, shelter, reconnaissance, and communication for active terrorists. The OGW network is also believed to be the critical link in smuggling arms and ammunition into J&K.
A senior intelligence source said, “These arms recoveries often originate from across the border and are moved through various conduits inside Jammu and Kashmir. The role of OGWs in this smuggling and logistical chain is crucial and remains a top target for security agencies.”
In a recent high-level security review meeting, Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha instructed all forces, including police, Army, and paramilitary units, to aggressively pursue and dismantle the terror-support ecosystem, including sympathisers, drug smugglers, and hawala money operators. Intelligence reports indicate that proceeds from narcotics smuggling and illicit money transfers are being routed to fund terror operations in Kashmir.
The recovered electronic set during Thursday’s operation is now under forensic examination, with officials hoping it will yield crucial evidence on the intended use and the handlers behind the consignment.
Security experts believe that such recoveries are indicative of a larger terror plot being averted. “We may have thwarted a major attack just in time,” said a counter-terror specialist. “The security forces’ alertness and coordination continue to ensure that terrorist designs are foiled before they can inflict damage.”
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The operation in Poonch underscores the volatile security situation in certain parts of J&K, even as the region gradually inches towards normalcy. With stepped-up intelligence and sustained anti-terror operations, officials assert that any attempts to reignite terrorism will be met with swift and decisive response.
