Kathua, Jan 16: Security forces busted three militant hideouts in the Billawar area of Kathua district in Jammu and Kashmir during a joint operation, police said on Friday.
A senior police officer said that on January 7, 2026, reliable intelligence was received regarding the movement of anti-national element(s) in the forest area of Kamaad Nallah in Billawar, joint teams of Kathua Police and other security forces launched a search operation.
Senior Superintendent of Police, Kathua, Mohita Sharma said the search operation is still underway and the police remain committed to maintaining peace and security in the district.
During the operation, militants opened fire on the security forces, triggering an exchange of fire that continued through the night.
During the search, one militant hideout was detected, from where security forces recovered two empty M4 cartridges, a plastic box containing desi ghee, a polythene packet of almonds, hand gloves, a cap, a blanket, a tarpaulin sheet, a small pouch and a polythene bag.
It said that in continuation of the operation, two more militant hideouts were busted on January 16, 2026, in the Kalikhad and Kalaban areas of Billawar.
Items recovered from these hideouts included a cooking gas cylinder, cooking oil, charger wire, hand gloves, cooking and eating utensils, an empty oil gallon, large plastic bags, a torch, blankets, containers and wrappers of eatables, along with other miscellaneous items.
|