Hizbul Mujahideen cave hideout similar to one used by Al-Qaeda busted in Kishtwar forest belt

Security forces achieved major success by busting a cave hideout of Hizbul Mujahideen in Chichha forest belt of Kishtwar. On specific information, joint operation group of 17 Rashtriya Rifles and Jammu and Kashmir Police, launched an operation in Chichha forest belt and during the process they busted a cave hideout used by Pakistan sponsored Hizbul Mujahideen terrorists operating in the area.

While searching for the hideout, security forces recovered large quantities of arms and ammunition that included one AK 56 rifle, one magazine with 27 rounds, one under-barrel grenade launcher (UBGL), one 9 mm pistol, one pistol magazine with 6 rounds. With the busting of this cave hideout, security forces have thwarted Hizbul’s plan to carry out a terror-related activity in that area.

The hideout was similar to the one used a few years back by Al Qaeda terrorists in Tora Bora heights of Afghanistan. Opening of the hideout was too small for anyone to suspect the presence of terrorists inside. But once security personnel crawled into the hideout, they found there was ample space to accommodate four to five terrorists at a time.

Besides dumping arms and ammunition these caves served as safe shelters for terrorists. One of the longest surviving and top Hizbul Commander, Jehangir Saroori, has been using a network of cave hideouts in Kishtwar heights to flee from watchful eyes of security personnel.

On several occasions, these caves have come to his rescue wherein he has given slip to raiding party by taking shelter inside these caves. Practically it is not possible for security personnel to search each and every cave-like cavity in an area.

In most of the cases, the dwindling support base has led terrorists to carve hideouts away from habitation. “In an indication of further shrinkage of the militants’ support base in the valley, more and more cases of outlaws using cave-like hideouts away from the human habitations are surfacing,” explained security personnel.

Atrocities committed by terrorists have led many locals to turn into security force informers. This is one of the reason that despite specially designed hideouts, security forces during the last few months have succeeded in laying their hands on top terror commanders.

Source: Times Now News