Security forces have busted a major Pakistan-backed Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terror hideout in the rugged upper reaches of Kishtwar district in Jammu and Kashmir, recovering large quantities of food, fuel and supplies sufficient to sustain militants for several months in extreme winter conditions.
The hideout was detected during a joint cordon-and-search operation launched on Sunday in the Sonnar village area near Mandral-Singhpora in the Chatroo belt. Located at an altitude of around 12,000 feet, the structure was found concealed amid dense forests and steep mountain terrain, an area known for heavy snowfall and limited access during winter.
According to officials familiar with the operation, the terrorists had constructed a Kargil-style fortified bunker, designed to withstand harsh weather and prolonged isolation. The bunker reportedly had multiple entry and exit points, allowing militants to evade security forces and survive in the high-altitude region for extended periods without regular movement.
During the search, security personnel recovered an extensive cache of supplies, highlighting the level of preparation involved. The seized material included around 50 packets of instant noodles, vegetables such as tomatoes and potatoes, nearly 15 varieties of spices, around 20 kilograms of high-quality basmati rice, pulses, cooking gas cylinders and dry firewood. Officials said the stockpile was clearly meant to support militants through months of snowbound conditions when movement becomes nearly impossible.
Investigators believe the hideout was being used by a senior JeM commander from Pakistan, identified as Saifullah, along with his deputy Adil. Security agencies suspect that constructing such a fortified bunker and transporting large quantities of ration and equipment to such a remote, high-altitude location would not have been possible without assistance from local overground workers.
The operation turned violent when troops closed in on Sunday afternoon. According to officials, the terrorists lobbed grenades at the advancing forces in an attempt to break the cordon. Seven soldiers were injured in the exchange. One of them, Havildar Gajendra Singh, later succumbed to his injuries, becoming the latest martyr in the ongoing counter-terror operations in the Jammu region.
Following the encounter, security forces launched a focused follow-up mission, code-named Operation Trashi-I, to track down the fleeing militants. Officials said two to three JeM terrorists are believed to be hiding in the higher reaches of the Chatroo area, using the dense forests and difficult terrain to evade capture.
Multiple teams of the Indian Army, Jammu and Kashmir Police and the Central Reserve Police Force have been deployed in the region. The search operations are being supported by drones and sniffer dogs, even as troops battle sub-zero temperatures, steep slopes and thick forest cover.
In an official post on X, the Army’s White Knight Corps said that Operation Trashi-I is continuing with increased intensity. “The cordon has been further tightened and search operations expanded. Troops, along with police and CRPF, remain deployed to dominate the area,” the Corps said, indicating that forces are determined to prevent the terrorists from slipping away.
The busting of the hideout has also exposed what officials describe as a suspected overground support network in the area. Four local residents have been detained so far for questioning, as agencies probe their alleged role in procuring and transporting food, utensils and other supplies to the terrorists. Further detentions are not being ruled out as the investigation progresses.
This is the third major encounter between security forces and terrorists in the Jammu region this year. Earlier clashes were reported in the Kahog and Najote forests of Kathua district’s Billawar area on January 7 and January 13. The region has witnessed heightened militant activity in recent months, prompting sustained counter-terror operations.
In December last year, a police officer was killed during an encounter with terrorists at Soan village in the Majalta area of Udhampur district. In that incident, the militants managed to escape under the cover of darkness and dense foliage, underscoring the challenges faced by security forces in forested and mountainous terrain.
Officials said the recent encounters are part of a larger counter-terror drive launched in December to flush out nearly three dozen terrorists believed to be holed up in the forest belts of the Jammu region. Intelligence inputs had warned of an increased push by Pakistan-based handlers to activate sleeper modules and establish long-term hideouts south of the Pir Panjal range.
With Republic Day approaching, security agencies have further intensified operations across Jammu and Kashmir. Officials said heightened vigilance is being maintained following intelligence alerts about desperate attempts by terror handlers across the border to push more militants into the region to disrupt peace and target security installations.
