Terrorists build underground bunkers in Shopian to escape

Bunkers dug up mostly in desnse apple orchards: Army

Shopian ( Kashmir), Sept. 20: Hideouts in higher reaches and seeking refuge in local houses are a thing of the past as terrorists in Kashmir Valley now dig underground bunkers in dense orchards and even in seasonal streams to escape the dragnet of Army and security forces.

“This trend has been witnessed off late in twin districts of Pulwama and Shopian with the latter having a majority of them in view of dense apple orchards and jungles,” says Colonel A. K. Singh, heading the 44 Rashtriya Rifles, the Army’s counterinsurgent unit which earned a distinction of having maximum kills of terrorists as well as surrenders or apprehensions.

Talking to PTI from the well- fortified 44- RR headquarters, Col. Singh and his team is always seen engaging with locals to sort out their problems which may even include career counselling or guidance in education but when it comes to countering

◗ ‘ This trend has been witnessed off late in twin districts of Pulwama and Shopian with the latter having a majority of them in view of dense apple orchards and jungles,’ says Colonel A. K. Singh, heading the 44 Rashtriya Rifles, the Army’s counterinsurgent unit.

terrorists, they are much ahead by neutralising 47 militants and ensuring detentions and surrender of seven of them.

For Col. Singh and his team, who man two areas of Shopian and three of Pulwama districts, both considered to be hotbeds of militancy, the task has not been easy after recovery of underground bunkers where terrorists could hide for several days without being noticed by the security forces.

The shocker was a hideout in the middle of Rambi Ara, known for fluctuating water levels and often affected by flash floods, that led Col Singh and his team members back to the drawing board.

“The terrorists were hiding inside an iron bunker made in the middle of Rambi Ara. The alert troops saw an opening of an empty oil barrel which was subsequently used by terrorists to enter into the bunker.

“This was something worth suspicion and discreet surveillance was mounted on the opening. Much to our surprise, we saw terrorists emerging out from underground in the middle of the stream, which generally has water gushing only in the rainy season,” he said.

Five terrorists belonging to banned Lashkar- eTayyeba and Hizbul Mujahideen were killed after the troops launched an attack earlier this year. However, for the army, it was not the statistics of the number of kills but a worrisome trend indicating that terrorists were now well- entrenched inside the underground bunkers.