Kulgam, Sept 30: Security forces on Tuesday claimed to have unearthed an old hideout used by militants in the dense forest belt of Laisoo Gudder in south Kashmir’s Kulgam district. The operation, carried out jointly by the Army’s 9 Rashtriya Rifles, 18 Battalion Central Reserve Police Force, and Special Operations Group of Kulgam Police, marked a fresh sweep in the ongoing counter-insurgency efforts in the region.
Police sources said that specific intelligence inputs had suggested the possible presence of a cache or remnants of militant infrastructure in the forested area falling under the jurisdiction of Police Station Devsar. Acting upon the lead, a search operation was launched early in the morning with multiple teams cordoning off the thick woods that stretch across Laisoo Gudder.
After several hours of combing operations, the joint teams came across traces of an abandoned structure concealed under layers of foliage and rocks. On closer examination, the site was identified as an old hideout, likely used by militants in earlier years. Security officials confirmed that the structure bore clear signs of having served as a makeshift shelter, though no fresh recoveries of arms or ammunition were immediately reported from the spot.
A senior police officer in Kulgam said the discovery was significant despite the absence of weapons. “Every hideout that we identify and dismantle reduces the tactical advantage for militants in these areas. This particular shelter had been abandoned for some time, but its very existence is a reminder that the forests were once exploited for militant movement and concealment. Our teams will ensure that no such facility remains usable,” the officer remarked.
The official added that forensic and technical teams had also visited the location to examine any leftover material, with efforts underway to establish when the hideout was last used and by whom. Security forces believe that even defunct shelters can sometimes provide clues about networks, routes, and logistical methods employed by militants. [KNT]
