On August 27, 2025, security forces achieved a significant breakthrough in counter-terror operations in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kupwara district with the recovery of a large cache of arms and ammunition from the Bhuvan Forest area of Rajwar in Handwara.

The operation was carried out by the Handwara Police in coordination with the Special Operations Group (SOG), following credible intelligence inputs about militant activity and the suspected presence of concealed arms in the region.

During the extensive search, security personnel discovered a well-hidden stockpile of weapons and explosives, which included 22 grenades, an under-barrel grenade launcher (UBGL), 15 live rounds of AK-47 ammunition, and approximately half a kilogram of a black powdered substance suspected to be an improvised explosive material.

The recovery of these materials indicates that terrorists were planning to stage major subversive attacks, which have now been averted due to the proactive measures of the security forces.

Police officials stated that the recovery represents a major blow to the designs of terrorist outfits and their facilitators, who have been attempting to disrupt peace and stability in north Kashmir.

The presence of high-grade weaponry, including grenades and the UBGL, highlights the potential scale of attacks that were being planned, particularly targeting security installations or civilian areas to instil fear and violence.

The discovery of explosives further suggests terrorists were possibly preparing for improvised explosive device (IED)-based attacks, which could have resulted in large-scale casualties. The swift action and vigilance of the Handwara SOG not only neutralised this threat but also underscored the ongoing commitment of security forces to dismantle terror networks operating in the forest belts along the Line of Control (LoC) and adjacent internal areas.

This development holds strategic importance, as the border districts of Kupwara and Handwara have long been vulnerable to arms smuggling and militant infiltration due to their proximity to the LoC and dense forest terrain that terrorists often exploit as hideouts and for arms dumps.

Authorities have intensified search and combing operations in the surrounding areas to ensure that no additional caches are hidden and to trace linkages behind the recovered consignment. Preliminary investigations suggest that the arms might have been part of a recent infiltration bid or supplied from across the border through established smuggling modules.

Police also emphasised that their operations will continue with enhanced surveillance and intelligence-driven raids to completely uproot any terror support networks active in the region. The recovery not only foils imminent terror attacks but also sends a strong deterrent message against any elements attempting to disturb peace in the Kashmir Valley.

Agencies