Army intercepts terrorists in Baramulla days after Pahalgam attack

Jammu and Kashmir: In a significant counter-infiltration operation following the Pahalgam terror attack, the Indian Army recovered a cache of arms and ammunition from Baramulla district in Jammu and Kashmir. The operation, dubbed Op TIKKA, was carried out by the Chinar Corps, who confirmed the recovery of two AK-series rifles, five magazines, one pistol, ten kilograms of RCIED (Remote-Controlled Improvised Explosive Device), and other war-like materials.

The action followed intelligence inputs about Pakistani terrorists attempting to cross into Indian territory near the Line of Control (LOC) in the Uri sector. Brigadier Mayank Shukla, Commander of the 161 Infantry Brigade, stated that the army intercepted the terrorists at around 3 am on the intervening night of April 22 and 23, following days of surveillance and intelligence monitoring.

Using drone support and strategically positioned ambush units, the security forces engaged in a two-hour gunfight, neutralising two terrorists. From the site, they recovered two AK rifles, a 9mm Chinese pistol, magazines, ammunition, and an IED weighing approximately 10 kg.

The operation was part of broader combing and counterterror efforts initiated after the April 22 Pahalgam attack, which left 26 tourists dead. The Baisaran meadow strike marked one of the most devastating terror incidents in the region since the 2019 Pulwama bombing.

Security officials believe the Baramulla infiltration attempt was part of a coordinated strategy to destabilise the region and provoke unrest following the abrogation of Article 370. Efforts are underway to identify the slain terrorists, with the Jammu and Kashmir Police leading the verification process.

This development highlights the continued threat from across the border and the vigilance of Indian forces in countering infiltrations and safeguarding civilians in the Kashmir Valley.