Srinagar, April 9 (NationPress) In a significant operation, the Chinar Corps of the Indian Army, collaborating with the Jammu and Kashmir Police, successfully intercepted a potential terror attack by locating and neutralising a 14.5 kg Improvised Explosive Device (IED) in the vicinity of Chitragam, situated in the Zainapora region of Shopian district, officials reported.

On Wednesday, the Chinar Corps shared an update via their official X account, stating: "Operation Chitragam, Shopian. #ChinarWarriors, in collaboration with @JmuKmrPolice, successfully prevented a major terror incident by recovering and safely disposing of an IED near Chitragam in the general area of Zainapora in Shopian. The IED, which weighed 14.5 kg and contained high explosives with a remote trigger, was expertly handled and destroyed in a controlled environment. The #IndianArmy is unwavering in its dedication to ensuring a terror-free Kashmir."

According to officials, the Indian Army is steadfast in its mission to maintain peace and security in Kashmir.

The explosive device was discovered early in the morning along the Zainpora-Chitragam road during a routine area sanitisation and was aimed at targeting vehicles belonging to security forces traversing that route.

The Bomb Disposal Squad was promptly summoned to safely defuse the IED, which resulted in a temporary halt of traffic on the Zainapora-Chitragam road.

Improvised Explosive Devices, often referred to as homemade bombs, are utilized by insurgents and terrorists to inflict damage to property and cause harm to individuals. These devices are generally crafted from conventional military components, chemical substances, or remnants of explosives.

IEDs are predominantly employed by guerrilla factions or terrorist groups as part of asymmetric warfare, urban combat, or during terrorist activities.

They are frequently disguised as roadside bombs or concealed within vehicles, containing a switch, an initiator (detonator), a charge (explosive), and a casing. Their sizes can vary from small pipe bombs to large vehicle-borne IEDs (VBIEDs), which can cause tremendous destruction.

Typically hidden along roadsides, inside culverts, or buried beneath surfaces, IEDs are highly adaptable and pose a severe threat to both security personnel and civilians, contributing to significant casualty rates in global conflicts.

To mitigate these risks, security forces often rely on Bomb Disposal Squads to neutralize such threats.

Army road opening parties (ROPs) and other security units are deployed early at dawn to search for IEDs placed by terrorists along roads and highways in Jammu and Kashmir. This procedure, known as 'sanitisation,' is essential for safeguarding the vehicles of security forces, VIP convoys, and civilians utilizing these routes.