Terrorist hideout busted in J&K's Kulgam, local resident arrested with huge cache of explosives

A joint party of police and security forces on Tuesday busted a hide-out in a residential house in Yaripora area of Jammu and Kashmir’s Kulgam district. Police claims to have recovered arms and ammunition including grenades and live rounds. “Police has registered a case in the matter and investigation has been initiated. One person Mohammad Ayoub Rather of Yaripora has been arrested in this connection,” news agency ANI reported.

Earlier, a major attack was averted by the Army in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir after a person namely Rajinder Singh was arrested with two grenades. Army handed him over to the Jammu and Kashmir for further investigation. “A person who had come to attend recruitment rally in Surankote organised by Territorial Army namely Rajinder Singh Krishan (33), resident of village Dhalyote, Tehsil Kalakot, district Rajouri was apprehended near Army town gate Surankote and during search C- 90 grenade, UBGL grenade and detonators were recovered from his possession,” official had said.

At least 18 terrorists, including eight from Pakistan, have been neutralised in the last 21 days – since the terror attack in Pulwama which had claimed the lives of 40 CRPF jawans, the Indian Army said on Monday.

The Indian Army and Jammu and Kashmir Police, addressing a joint press conference, said that Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terrorist Mudasir Ahmed Khan alias 'Mohd Bhai' – the mastermind of the Pulwama attack – was also killed in the encounter in Tral's Pinglish area in Pulwama district.

The presser was addressed by Indian Army Lieutenant General Kanwal Jeet Singh Dhillon, IG Kashmir S P Pani and IG CRPF Zulfiqar Hussain.

IG Kashmir S P Pani said that the killing of Mudasir has caused a major dent to the Jaish leadership in the Valley. He added that one of the militants killed has been identified as 'Code Khalid', believed to be Pakistani.

Mudasir was among two militants killed in the encounter which lasted past midnight. Khan and an JeM operative, who officials believe is Sajjad Bhat, whose vehicle was used in the Pulwama attack, were killed in the gunfight with security forces. 

 "In first 70 days of 2019, security forces have been successful in eliminating 44 terrorists, mainly from Jaish-e-Mohammed. Against 1629 ceasefire violations along Line of Control in 2018, this year 478 ceasefire violations have already taken place along LoC," Indian Army sources were quoted by ANI as saying.