Army busts terror hideout in J&K's Poonch; IEDs, wireless sets, clothes recovered

NEW DELHI: Security forces on Monday recovered huge cache of arms and ammunition from a destroyed terrorist hideout in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district.

According to officials, a joint search operation by the Army, J&K Police and SOG recovered five IEDs, wireless sets, and some clothes from the hideout.

All the ready-to-use IEDs, weighing between half-a-kg and five kg, were destroyed in a controlled explosion on-the-spot, thwarting terrorist plans to set off explosions in the border district, the officials added.

Earlier on Sunday, Inspector General of Police, Kashmir, VK Birdi held a joint security review meeting at PCR Kashmir, which was attended by officers from multiple security forces, including the Police, Army, Intelligence Agencies, and Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs).

The officers briefed IGP Kashmir about the overall security scenario, with the primary focus on garnering insights into existing security challenges in the Valley.

This comes in backdrop of the recent terror attack in Pahalgam which claimed 26 lives. Following the deadly attack, the security has been beefed up across the state.

Additional checkpoints have been set up on highways and in sensitive areas, and quick reaction teams have been deployed near key installations and tourist hotspots.

Additionally, security has been increased around small, medium, and large hotels where tourists are staying to prevent any potential incidents.

Meanwhile, India has announced a slew of measures against Pakistan, including the deportation of its nationals from Indian soil, the closure of the Attari-Wagah border crossing, throwing the Indus Water Treaty into abeyance, closing its airspace for Pakistani commercial flights, and the cancellation of all trade and cultural exchange between the two countries.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given operational freedom to the armed forces to avenge the Pahalgam attacks.