<p>Srinagar: With natural caves in the rugged terrain of Poonch and Rajouri districts in Jammu region emerging as a new challenge for security forces, Army Chief General Manoj Pande has asked the commanders to dismantle these hideouts of the terrorists at the earliest, sources told <em>DH</em>.</p><p>General Pande, who reviewed the security situation at the twin border districts during his one-day visit on Monday, instructed local commanders to go the offensive on terrorists hiding in forest areas and dismantle their natural cave hideouts, hidden beneath the thick foliage, they added.</p><p>There are reports that terrorists have taken shelter in a number of natural cave hideouts in the forest areas of Rajouri-Poonch, also known as Pir Panjal range, and they take shelter in these hideouts before and after carrying out terror strikes in the region.</p><p>The caves, with their labyrinthine passages, provided strategic advantages to those seeking refuge within.</p><p>“Investigations are on about the route of ingress into these caves. Searches are also being conducted extensively as there were reports that the terrorists might be using the cave hideouts for the purpose of shelter with the support of some locals for food and logistics,” sources revealed.</p>.Industrial investments in Jammu & Kashmir on rise after abrogation of Article 370 . <p>Security personnel face the task of confronting this unconventional threat, employing technology like ground-penetrating radar and thermal imaging to detect hidden chambers. "The evolving security situation has prompted collaboration between various security agencies to foster a comprehensive strategy,” they added.</p><p>Dera Ki Gali, where terrorists last week killed four soldiers and injured two in an ambush attack, is just 20 kilometres from the Line of Control (LoC) and links Bafliaz in Poonch to Thanamandi in Rajouri.</p><p>The natural caves within the forest of Dera Ki Gali have proven to be effective hideouts for terrorists. Over the past decade, security forces have successfully uncovered several hideouts in these caves.</p><p>During the Kokernag operation in September this year, in which a Colonel, a Major and a police officer were killed, videos released informally by security forces showed them using the most sophisticated drones including the Israel-manufactured Heron to track down militants.</p><p>The forces also extensively used mortars, snipers, under-barrel grenade launchers, rockets and heavy machine guns to target the suspected cave-like militant hideouts.</p>
<p>Srinagar: With natural caves in the rugged terrain of Poonch and Rajouri districts in Jammu region emerging as a new challenge for security forces, Army Chief General Manoj Pande has asked the commanders to dismantle these hideouts of the terrorists at the earliest, sources told <em>DH</em>.</p><p>General Pande, who reviewed the security situation at the twin border districts during his one-day visit on Monday, instructed local commanders to go the offensive on terrorists hiding in forest areas and dismantle their natural cave hideouts, hidden beneath the thick foliage, they added.</p><p>There are reports that terrorists have taken shelter in a number of natural cave hideouts in the forest areas of Rajouri-Poonch, also known as Pir Panjal range, and they take shelter in these hideouts before and after carrying out terror strikes in the region.</p><p>The caves, with their labyrinthine passages, provided strategic advantages to those seeking refuge within.</p><p>“Investigations are on about the route of ingress into these caves. Searches are also being conducted extensively as there were reports that the terrorists might be using the cave hideouts for the purpose of shelter with the support of some locals for food and logistics,” sources revealed.</p>.Industrial investments in Jammu & Kashmir on rise after abrogation of Article 370 . <p>Security personnel face the task of confronting this unconventional threat, employing technology like ground-penetrating radar and thermal imaging to detect hidden chambers. "The evolving security situation has prompted collaboration between various security agencies to foster a comprehensive strategy,” they added.</p><p>Dera Ki Gali, where terrorists last week killed four soldiers and injured two in an ambush attack, is just 20 kilometres from the Line of Control (LoC) and links Bafliaz in Poonch to Thanamandi in Rajouri.</p><p>The natural caves within the forest of Dera Ki Gali have proven to be effective hideouts for terrorists. Over the past decade, security forces have successfully uncovered several hideouts in these caves.</p><p>During the Kokernag operation in September this year, in which a Colonel, a Major and a police officer were killed, videos released informally by security forces showed them using the most sophisticated drones including the Israel-manufactured Heron to track down militants.</p><p>The forces also extensively used mortars, snipers, under-barrel grenade launchers, rockets and heavy machine guns to target the suspected cave-like militant hideouts.</p>