Banihal (Jammu and Kashmir): Security forces have busted a terrorist hideout in the higher reaches of the Ramban district of Jammu and Kashmir, a police officer said on Wednesday. Assorted ammunition, including a mortar bomb, cartridges, and other related materials were seized during a joint search operation launched by the Army and Jammu and Kashmir Police. An FIR (77/2023 u/s 7/25) has been registered under the Arms Act at the Banihal police station and an investigation into the matter is underway.
The hideout was unearthed during a search operation in Jamalwan forest on Tuesday evening, Pradeep Kumar, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Headquarters Ramban, told reporters in Banihal. Besides the 52 mm mortar bomb, the search parties recovered four detonators, cordtex wire (detonating cord), five magazines of AK assault rifles, two pistol magazines, an LMG ammunition belt box, 292 rounds of assorted ammunition, and several other related items, he said.
"Given the rusted condition of the seized material, it seems the hideout was an old one (when terrorists used to operate in the area over a decade back). The graph of militancy is on the decline in Ramban and only a few isolated incidents have taken place in the district over the last several years," the officer said.
Referring to a grenade attack outside a police post in Gool in August last year, Kumar said that was the last militancy-related incident reported in the district. He said the search operation was carried out on reliable information and an outcome of the public outreach program of police and security forces.
"Army, police, and other security agencies are dominating the higher reaches by patrolling the areas (to maintain vigil) as passes are opening up with the melting of snow," the DSP said. (With agency Inputs)
