Poonch terror hideout busted: IEDs, AK-47 rounds recovered in J&K op
Synopsis
On Independence Day, joint forces dismantled a terror hideout in Poonch's Draba area, seizing multiple IEDs, a wireless communication set, and AK-47 rounds — the latest in a sustained wave of counter-terror operations across Poonch and Rajouri that have netted weapons, narcotics, and militant survival caches, pointing to an active cross-border logistics network still being systematically dismantled.
Key Takeaways
Joint forces busted a terror hideout in the Draba area of Surankote sector, Poonch on 15 August .
Recoveries included one gamla-type IED , one gool-type IED , four small IEDs , one Motorola wireless set , and seven AK-47 rounds .
The operation was carried out by 16 RR , J&K Police SOG , and 38 Battalion CRPF on specific intelligence inputs.
Parallel operations in Rajouri used drones, helicopters , and sniffer dogs to search caves in Gambhir Mughlan and Dorimal forests.
Forces also intercepted a militant logistics cache in Thanamandi containing blankets, gas stoves, and food items.
Search operations across Poonch and Rajouri are ongoing, with further recoveries expected.
Joint security forces on Saturday, 15 August busted a terror hideout in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir, recovering a significant cache of arms and explosives in the Draba area of Surankote sector. Officials said the operation averted what could have been a major attack.
How the Operation Unfolded
Acting on specific intelligence inputs, a joint team comprising the 16 Rashtriya Rifles (RR), the Special Operations Group (SOG) of J&K Police, and the 38 Battalion of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) launched a coordinated search operation in the area. The multi-agency deployment reflects the standard operating procedure for high-risk cordon-and-search missions in the region's forested belts.
Arms and Explosives Recovered
The haul from the Draba hideout included one gamla-type IED, one gool-type IED, four small IEDs, one Motorola wireless set, and seven AK-47 rounds. Officials confirmed that search operations in the area are continuing. The recovery of multiple IED variants alongside a communication device suggests the hideout was intended as an active operational node, not merely a storage point.
Broader Pattern: Poonch and Rajouri Under Sustained Pressure
The Poonch bust is part of a wider surge in counter-terror activity across the twin border districts. In recent operations, joint forces dismantled multiple militant hideouts in forested belts including Sawjian and Khanetar, recovering hundreds of live machine gun rounds — including Pika and general-purpose machine gun (GPMG) ammunition — IEDs, hand grenades, and AK-series rifles.
Troops patrolling near the Line of Control (LoC) in sectors such as Balakote and Mendhar also seized smuggled narcotics alongside foreign-origin pistols reportedly dropped across the border, pointing to cross-border logistics networks still active in the region.
Rajouri Operations: Drones, Helicopters and Cave Searches
In neighbouring Rajouri district, a massive joint operation was launched by the Indian Army, J&K Police SOG, and CRPF in the Gambhir Mughlan and Dorimal forests of Manjakote sector following an encounter in dense terrain. Troops deployed drones, helicopters, and sniffer dogs to flush out suspected foreign terrorists reportedly hiding in natural caves.
In the Chamrer forest area of Thanamandi division, Rashtriya Rifles troops recovered a ready-to-use IED along with clothing and rations from another busted hideout. Separately, in the Islampur Bhanghai area of Thanamandi, forces intercepted a hidden logistics cache containing survival materials — blankets, gas stoves, and food items — assessed to be meant for sustaining hiding militants.
Security Forces' Assessment
Officials said the cumulative recoveries underscore the sustained effort to dismantle terror infrastructure and pre-empt attacks in the border districts of Poonch and Rajouri. The operations signal that security forces are prioritising supply-chain interdiction — cutting off weapons, communication, and sustenance — alongside direct engagement. With search operations still ongoing in multiple sectors, further recoveries are expected.
Point of View
Not an abandoned cache. The pattern across Poonch and Rajouri reveals a terror supply chain that is still functioning: weapons from across the LoC, narcotics as a funding mechanism, and pre-positioned survival caches for long-duration forest concealment. Security forces appear to be targeting the logistics layer deliberately, which is the right approach — but the frequency of fresh discoveries also signals that the pipeline has not been severed. The deeper question, which official statements leave unanswered, is whether these operations are disrupting an imminent threat cycle or merely trimming its edges.
NationPress
15 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was recovered in the Poonch terror hideout bust on 15 August?
Security forces recovered one gamla-type IED, one gool-type IED, four small IEDs, one Motorola wireless set, and seven AK-47 rounds from a hideout in the Draba area of Surankote sector in Poonch, Jammu and Kashmir. The operation was based on specific intelligence inputs.
Which security forces were involved in the Poonch operation?
The joint operation was conducted by the 16 Rashtriya Rifles (RR), the Special Operations Group (SOG) of J&K Police, and the 38 Battalion of CRPF. Multi-agency deployments of this kind are standard for high-risk search operations in the border districts.
What operations are underway in Rajouri alongside the Poonch bust?
In Rajouri, a major joint operation involving the Indian Army, J&K Police SOG, and CRPF is searching the Gambhir Mughlan and Dorimal forests of Manjakote sector, using drones, helicopters, and sniffer dogs to locate suspected foreign terrorists in caves. Separate recoveries have been made in the Chamrer forest and Islampur Bhanghai areas of Thanamandi.
What is the significance of the logistics cache found in Thanamandi?
Forces intercepted a hidden cache in the Islampur Bhanghai area of Thanamandi containing blankets, gas stoves, and food items assessed to be intended for sustaining hiding militants. Such finds indicate that terror groups are pre-positioning survival supplies for long-duration forest operations, pointing to an organised support network.
Are search operations in Poonch and Rajouri still ongoing?
Yes, officials confirmed that search operations in the Draba area of Poonch are continuing, and operations across multiple sectors in Rajouri are also active. Further recoveries are expected as forces continue to comb forested and cave terrain in both districts.
