In a significant counter-terror operation, security forces in Jammu and Kashmir uncovered a terrorist hideout in the Poonch district’s Suranthal area of Surankote. The joint operation, conducted by the Indian Army and the J-K Police’s Special Operations Group, led to the recovery of five improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and two wireless sets. The IEDs, varying in size from half a kilogram to five kilograms, were safely destroyed in a controlled explosion, averting potential threats in this sensitive border region.
The explosives were cleverly concealed—two packed inside steel buckets and three hidden in tiffin boxes. Alongside the IEDs, the security forces also recovered five packets of urea, a five-litre gas cylinder, a binocular, woollen caps, blankets, and other supplies, suggesting that the hideout was well-stocked and prepared for long-term use. This discovery reinforces the ongoing efforts by security agencies to dismantle the terrorist infrastructure operating in the region.
In a related and controversial incident, the death of Imtiyaz Ahmed, allegedly linked to a Lashkar-e-Taiba sleeper cell, has stirred public anger. Ahmed reportedly drowned in the Vaishow stream while trying to escape police custody. However, his family has disputed the official version, accusing the authorities of custodial killing. The case has sparked widespread outrage across Jammu and Kashmir and reignited debates over law enforcement accountability.
Former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti voiced strong criticism against the administration, arguing that arbitrary actions like home demolitions and civilian arrests in the wake of violence play directly into the hands of the terrorists. She warned that such responses defeat the purpose of counterterrorism by alienating the civilian population.
The controversy has drawn parallels with a previous case involving three missing Gujjar youths whose bodies were found in the Vaishow stream—an incident still under investigation. The mounting tension has prompted calls for transparency and justice from both the public and political leadership.
State Cabinet Minister Sakina Itoo has demanded a judicial inquiry into Ahmed’s death, asserting, “There should be a judicial probe so that the truth comes out.” Her statement reflects a broader demand for clarity and due process amidst escalating concerns about the state’s handling of such sensitive matters.
These developments come in the aftermath of a brutal terrorist attack on April 22, when gunmen targeted the popular tourist destination of Baisaran in Pahalgam, South Kashmir. The attack claimed the lives of at least 26 people, most of them tourists, and left many others injured, further intensifying the region’s security challenges.
