The hideout of the longest surviving terrorist of Hizbul Mujahideen, Jehangir Saroori, was unearthed in the higher reaches of Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar on Tuesday (September 5), police said.
The J-K Police along with the troops of Rashtriya Rifles and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) destroyed the hideout in a planned operation in the Paribag area of Bhadat Saroor, Senior Superintendent of Police, Kishtwar, Khalil Poswal said.
The police said that Saroori joined terrorism in the early 1990s and is said to be hiding in the higher reaches of the Kishtwar district. Saroori’s brother Abdul Karim Butt, who was a terrorist associate, was detained under the stringent Public Safety Act on August 3.
The police official termed the unearthing of the hideout as a significant breakthrough in the anti-terrorist operations, and said that Saroori was suspected to have been using the hideout and planning subversive activities.
The police recovered two blankets, some edibles and personal use items from the hideout during the search operation which indicating the presence of the terrorist, the police said.
The SSP said the entire area has been cordoned and searches are being conducted.
"Our mission is to ensure the safety and security of our citizens, and today's operation is a resounding success in our ongoing efforts to eradicate terrorism from the region," Poswal said.
The officer urged the people to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities.
Meanwhile, at least one terrorist was killed in an encounter with security forces in Jammu and Kashmir's (J&K) Reasi district on September 4. A police personnel was also injured in the security operation.
According to police sources, on Monday, two terrorists entered a house that belonged to a policeman. The terrorists asked the cop to arrange for their shelter and food... However, the police personnel somehow informed the department that two terrorists were in his house following which an operation was launched by the Jammu and Kashmir Police and the Army. The security operation is still underway.
(With PTI inputs)
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