50 Maggi packets, 20kg rice, veggies, LPG cylinders: JeM’s winter bunker unearthed during Kishtwar encounter; terrorists stocked up for months | Jammu News

JAMMU: In the high mountains of Kishtwar, terrorists belonging to Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) had planned a long-haul stay.A rugged bunker — carefully shielded with stones lined up outside for cover — had been stocked with enough supplies to sustain the occupants for months, indicating preparations for a prolonged hideout.The bunker was busted by the army after an intense counter-terror operation in which one commando made the supreme sacrifice and several others sustained injuries.As per the news reports, the hideout was stacked with at least 50 packets of noodles, a full crate of tomatoes and potatoes, 15 type of spices, two bags of 10kg basmati rice, daal, bags of wheat, bajra, two full size LPG cylinders, burner and dry wood were recovered from the bunker.A paratrooper, who was critically injured during the gunfight, succumbed to his injuries on Monday. The ongoing search operation subsequently led to the recovery of the suspected terror hideout packed with rations.A group of two to three terrorists, believed to be affiliated with Jaish-e-Mohammad, is suspected to be hiding in the area. The operation, which was suspended late Sunday night, resumed at first light on Monday.The operation was launched in Sonnar village near Mandral-Singhpora in the Chatroo belt on Sunday after security forces established contact with the terrorists. An encounter followed, during which eight soldiers were injured, primarily due to splinters from a sudden grenade attack.Officials said the operation had to be paused overnight due to difficult terrain, thick vegetation, and steep slopes that severely restricted visibility and movement.In a post on X, the Army’s White Knight Corps said Operation Trashi-I was continuing in the Chatroo area.“The cordon has been further tightened, with search operations expanded. Troops of the Corps, along with police and CRPF, remain deployed to dominate the area,” the post said.Multiple teams of the army, police and paramilitary forces, supported by drones and sniffer dogs, are combing the area while maintaining a tight security cordon to prevent the terrorists from escaping, officials told PTI.Meanwhile, one of the injured soldiers, Havildar Gajendra Singh, succumbed to his injuries during treatment at a military hospital in Jammu on the intervening night of January 18 and 19.Paying tribute, the army said: “The General Officer Commanding, White Knight Corps, and all ranks pay solemn tribute to Havildar Gajendra Singh of the Special Forces, who made the supreme sacrifice while gallantly executing a counter-terrorism operation in the Singhpora area during the ongoing Operation Trashi-I.We honour his indomitable courage, valour and selfless devotion to duty and stand firmly with the bereaved family in this hour of profound grief.”Army’s Northern Commander Lt Gen Pratik Sharma also paid homage to the fallen soldier, saying his sacrifice and devotion would “forever remain etched in our hearts”.Earlier, the White Knight Corps had said security forces came in contact with terrorists in the general area of Sonnar, northeast of Chatroo, during a search operation conducted as part of joint counter-terror efforts with the Jammu and Kashmir Police.“Operations remain underway with additional forces inducted to reinforce the cordon, supported by close coordination with civil administration and security agencies,” the Army said, commending troops for their professionalism and resolve under hostile fire in challenging conditions.This was the third encounter between security forces and terrorists in the Jammu region this year. Earlier encounters took place in the Kahog and Najote forests of Kathua district’s Billawar area on January 7 and 13.On December 15 last year, a police officer was killed in an encounter with terrorists in the Majalta area of Udhampur district. The terrorists escaped, taking advantage of thick foliage and darkness.These encounters followed a major counter-terror operation launched in the forest belts of the Jammu region in December to flush out nearly three dozen terrorists believed to be hiding in the area.Security operations have been further intensified ahead of Republic Day, amid intelligence inputs about renewed attempts by Pakistan-based handlers to push terrorists into the region, officials said.(With agency inputs)