Three terrorist hideouts busted in Jammu: J&K Police

Three hideouts have been busted in Jammu’s Kathua in an ongoing anti-terror operation in a forest area, the J&K Police said on Friday (January 16, 2026).

A police spokesman said two terrorist hideouts were busted by the joint teams of the security forces in Kalikhad and Kalaban areas of Billawar in Kathua.

The recovery from these hideouts included a cooking gas cylinder, cooking oil, charger wire, hand gloves, cooking and eating utensils, empty oil gallon, large plastic bags, torch, blankets, container and wrappers of eatables and other miscellaneous items.

The first hideout was busted on January 7 following “reliable intelligence about the movement of anti-national element(s) in the forest area of Kamaad Nallah, Kalaban, Dhanu Parole, Billawar”. 

“Acting swiftly on the intelligence input, joint teams of security forces launched a massive search operation to neutralise the terrorist(s). During the operation, unknown terrorist(s) opened indiscriminate fire on the security forces, resulting in an exchange of fire that continued throughout the night,” the police said.

The police had recovered two M4 empty cartridges, one plastic box containing desi ghee, one polythene packet containing almonds, hand gloves, one cap, one blanket, one tarpaulin sheet, one small pouch and a polythene bag.

“The search operation is still underway and the Kathua police remains fully committed to maintain peace and security in the district,” Mohita Sharma, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Kathua, said.