Poonch CASO: Security forces launch search op after terrorist movement inputs in J&K
Synopsis
Joint forces — SOG and Rashtriya Rifles — have thrown a cordon across densely forested zones in Poonch's Surankote area after intelligence flagged two separate groups of suspected terrorists. No contact has been made yet, but the operation signals heightened threat perception in a belt that has seen repeated militant activity. Separately, a UXO was safely defused in Kathua near the International Border.
Key Takeaways
Joint security forces launched a CASO in Poonch district on Tuesday after inputs on suspected movement of two terrorist groups in Surankote .
SOG (J&K Police) and Rashtriya Rifles are conducting the operation across Dhara Sangla , Gujjar Naar , and Kherowali Dhok areas.
No exchange of fire or contact with suspected terrorists has been reported so far; the operation is ongoing.
An old rusted mortar shell (UXO) was recovered from a house courtyard in Kattal-Brahmana village , Kathua district , near the International Border .
The Bomb Disposal Squad safely removed the shell; UXO recoveries are routine in J&K's border districts due to decades of military activity.
Joint security forces on Tuesday launched a large-scale Cordon and Search Operation (CASO) in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district after receiving intelligence inputs about the suspected movement of two separate groups of terrorists in the remote Surankote area. The operation is ongoing, with no contact or exchange of fire reported so far.
Operation Details
Acting on the intelligence inputs, personnel of the Special Operations Group (SOG) of the J&K Police, supported by troops of the Rashtriya Rifles, cordoned off and began combing the Dhara Sangla, Gujjar Naar, and Kherowali Dhok areas, along with adjoining forested villages. The terrain — densely forested and mountainous — presents significant challenges for the search teams.
'A systematic operation is going on to track the terrorists,' officials said. The operation remained active through Tuesday, with forces methodically sweeping the region.
No Contact Yet, Search Continues
Officials confirmed that as of the latest update, no exchange of fire had taken place with the suspected terrorists. The search is being conducted in a coordinated, sector-by-sector manner across the forested zones of Surankote. This comes amid a broader pattern of security operations in the Poonch-Rajouri belt, which has seen a series of militant activity alerts and encounters in recent months.
Unexploded Shell Recovered in Kathua
In a separate incident on Tuesday morning, an old rusted mortar shell was recovered from the courtyard of a house near the International Border (IB) in the Hiranagar sector of Kathua district. Labourers engaged in excavation work at the residence of Subash Chander in Kattal-Brahmana village spotted the suspicious object and alerted authorities.
A police team accompanied by the Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) promptly secured the area and safely removed the shell for disposal. Officials classified the object as Unexploded Ordnance (UXO).
Why UXO Discoveries Are Common in Border Areas
Unexploded ordnance recoveries are a recurring feature of life along J&K's border districts. The frontier villages lining the Line of Control (LoC) and the International Border have witnessed decades of military confrontations and ceasefire violations, during which thousands of mortar shells were fired. A significant proportion of those shells failed to detonate on impact — due to mechanical faults, fuse failures, or soft-landing terrain such as dense mud or thick vegetation.
Regions like Poonch, Kupwara, and Rajouri are particularly prone, given their mountainous, forested, and muddy topography. Shells buried under silt or overgrown brush for months or even decades are routinely exposed by excavation, agricultural activity, or environmental changes — making UXO vigilance a permanent operational requirement for security agencies in the union territory.
With the CASO in Surankote still active, authorities have urged residents in the area to remain alert and cooperate with security personnel.
Point of View
Despite repeated anti-infiltration drives. The simultaneous discovery of unexploded ordnance in Kathua is a reminder that the border's legacy hazards — physical and tactical — have not been fully neutralised. What mainstream coverage often misses is that CASO activations of this scale typically follow credible human intelligence, not just satellite or aerial inputs, which raises questions about the depth of militant networks still operating in these forested zones. The absence of contact so far does not indicate a false alarm — it may simply reflect the terrain advantage that forested, mountainous Surankote offers to those evading a cordon.
NationPress
4 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What triggered the security operation in Poonch's Surankote area?
Security forces launched the CASO after receiving intelligence inputs about the suspected movement of two separate groups of terrorists in the remote Surankote area of Poonch district on Tuesday. Both the SOG of J&K Police and Rashtriya Rifles troops were deployed to cordon and search the forested zone.
Has there been any encounter or exchange of fire in the Poonch CASO?
No. As of the latest update, no contact or exchange of fire has taken place with the suspected terrorists. Officials confirmed that a systematic search operation is ongoing across Dhara Sangla, Gujjar Naar, and Kherowali Dhok areas.
What was recovered in Kathua district on Tuesday?
An old rusted mortar shell, classified as Unexploded Ordnance (UXO), was recovered from the courtyard of a house in Kattal-Brahmana village in the Hiranagar sector of Kathua district. The Bomb Disposal Squad safely removed it after labourers spotted it during excavation work.
Why are unexploded shells frequently found in J&K's border areas?
Decades of military confrontations and ceasefire violations along the Line of Control and International Border resulted in thousands of mortar shells being fired, a significant percentage of which failed to detonate. The mountainous, forested, and muddy terrain in districts like Poonch, Kupwara, and Rajouri cushions impact and prevents fuse activation, leaving live shells buried for months or even decades before being exposed by excavation or environmental changes.
Which security units are involved in the Poonch operation?
The operation involves the Special Operations Group (SOG) of the J&K Police, assisted by troops of the Rashtriya Rifles. Together, they are conducting a Cordon and Search Operation across forested and remote zones in the Surankote area of Poonch district.
