Hizbul Mujahideen posters, grenades seized in Shopian; 3 arrested
Synopsis
Five individuals were arrested across two South Kashmir districts in a single day — three in Shopian carrying Hizbul Mujahideen propaganda and grenades, and two terror associates in Pulwama's Yarwan forest with a pistol, ammunition, and a grenade. The twin operations point to sustained intelligence-driven pressure on militant networks in the Valley.
Key Takeaways
Three individuals — Junaid Ahmad Dar , Amir Yousuf , and Junaid Muzaffar , all from Kulgam district — were arrested in Shopian on 25 August .
Security forces recovered two hand grenades and five Hizbul Mujahideen propaganda posters from the trio.
In a separate operation in Pulwama , two terror associates were apprehended in the Yarwan forest area by a joint Army-CRPF team.
Arms recovered in Pulwama include one pistol , 12 rounds of ammunition , and one hand grenade .
All five arrested individuals are under investigation; recovered material has been confiscated.
Security forces in Jammu and Kashmir arrested three individuals on Tuesday, 25 August during a naka-checking operation in Shopian district of South Kashmir, recovering two hand grenades and five posters bearing markings of the banned terror outfit Hizbul Mujahideen (HM). The arrests add to a pattern of stepped-up counter-terror operations across the Valley in recent weeks.
Who Was Arrested and What Was Seized
The three detained individuals have been identified as Junaid Ahmad Dar, Amir Yousuf, and Junaid Muzaffar, all residents of Kulgam district. A motorcycle was also seized during the operation. The recovered grenades and Hizbul Mujahideen propaganda material have been confiscated, and further investigation is underway, according to officials.
Separate Pulwama Operation Nets Two Terror Associates
In a separate operation earlier the same day, security forces apprehended two terror associates in the Yarwan forest area of CB Nath, Rajpora in Pulwama district. The joint operation involved the 44 Rashtriya Rifles of the Indian Army and the 183 Battalion CRPF.
Officials said the operation was launched based on coordinated security inputs. 'Acting on coordinated security inputs, a Cordon and Search Operation (CASO) was launched in the general Yarwan forest area. During the operation, the joint teams noticed two individuals emerging from the forest towards CB Nath village in a suspicious manner. The alert teams swiftly moved in and apprehended both individuals,' an officer said.
The two apprehended individuals were identified as Latif Ahmad Deedad, son of Gh. Mohammad Deedad, resident of Lassi Daban, and Aejaz Ahmad Bajad, son of Nazir Ahmad Bajad, resident of Bun Kha Bamnoo. From their possession, security forces recovered one pistol, 12 pistol rounds, and one hand grenade.
Hizbul Mujahideen: The Banned Outfit Behind the Posters
Hizbul Mujahideen is one of the largest militant organisations historically active in Jammu and Kashmir and has been designated a banned terror outfit by the Indian government. The recovery of HM propaganda material in Shopian signals continued efforts to keep the outfit's ideology alive in the region, even as its operational capacity has been significantly degraded over the years through sustained counter-insurgency operations.
Broader Security Picture
The twin operations on 25 August reflect an intensified security posture across South Kashmir, a region that has historically been a hotbed of militant activity. Notably, both Shopian and Pulwama districts have seen repeated counter-terror actions in recent months. Security agencies continue to rely on coordinated intelligence-driven operations — combining Army, CRPF, and local police assets — to pre-empt weapons supplies and propaganda dissemination. The investigation into all five arrested individuals is ongoing.
Point of View
Not just its operational capacity. What mainstream coverage often misses is that propaganda distribution is a precursor to recruitment, making these arrests as much about disrupting a pipeline as about seizing hardware. The pattern of Kulgam residents operating in Shopian also points to inter-district mobilisation that security agencies will need to map carefully.
NationPress
25 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who were the three persons arrested in Shopian on 25 August?
The three arrested individuals are Junaid Ahmad Dar , Amir Yousuf , and Junaid Muzaffar , all residents of Kulgam district. They were detained during a naka-checking operation in Shopian and found carrying two hand grenades and five Hizbul Mujahideen posters.
What is Hizbul Mujahideen and why is it significant?
Hizbul Mujahideen is a banned militant organisation historically active in Jammu and Kashmir, designated a terror outfit by the Indian government. The recovery of its propaganda material signals continued attempts to sustain its ideological presence in South Kashmir despite degraded operational capacity.
What was recovered in the Pulwama operation on 25 August?
Security forces recovered one pistol, 12 rounds of pistol ammunition, and one hand grenade from two terror associates apprehended in the Yarwan forest area of CB Nath, Rajpora, Pulwama. The operation was conducted jointly by the 44 Rashtriya Rifles and 183 Battalion CRPF.
Who were the two terror associates arrested in Pulwama?
They were identified as Latif Ahmad Deedad, son of Gh. Mohammad Deedad, a resident of Lassi Daban, and Aejaz Ahmad Bajad, son of Nazir Ahmad Bajad, a resident of Bun Kha Bamnoo. Both were apprehended after emerging from the Yarwan forest in a suspicious manner.
What is the current status of the investigation?
All five arrested individuals remain under investigation. The recovered weapons, ammunition, and propaganda material have been confiscated by security forces, and further probe is underway, according to officials.
