Security forces recovered a significant cache of arms and ammunition during a cordon and search operation (CASO) in the Khanetar Top area of J&K’s Poonch district on July 10. The operation was launched based on specific intelligence inputs indicating the possible presence of a terror consignment.
According to the reports, the recovered items include two pistols 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. Authorities believe the recovered arsenal is linked to a broader network of weapon smuggling aimed at reviving terrorism in the region.
“The recovery of IEDs and an electronic device suggests the possibility that the terrorists were planning some attack,” an official stated, underscoring the ongoing threat posed by militant elements and their backers.
This recovery comes in the backdrop of the April 22 terror attack in the Baisaran meadow of Pahalgam, where Pakistan-backed Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists brutally killed 26 civilians after reportedly segregating them based on religion. Since then, security forces have intensified operations targeting terrorists, their Over Ground Workers (OGWs), and sympathisers across Jammu and Kashmir.
Reports suggest that OGW networks provide crucial logistical support to terrorists, including shelter, reconnaissance, and safe passage. The ecosystem sustaining terrorism also reportedly involves drug smuggling and hawala money rackets, with funds being funneled to support militant activities.
In a recent security review meeting, the Lieutenant Governor of J&K directed security agencies and the J&K Police to dismantle the entire terror ecosystem, comprising militants, OGWs, sympathisers, drug smugglers, and financial conduits.
Following the Pahalgam massacre, Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave a free hand to the armed forces to respond. As part of a decisive counter-strike strategy, the armed forces carried out targeted strikes on terror infrastructure in Muridke near Lahore, Bahawalpur, Kotli, and Muzaffarabad in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), signalling a robust response to cross-border terrorism.
