Poonch: In a major breakthrough on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, the Indian Army and specialized units successfully neutralized a potential terror threat in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district. Following high-grade intelligence inputs, a joint cordon-and-search operation was launched in the Kasbalari area, located within the Mendhar police station limits.
The operation was executed by a collaborative team comprising the Army’s Ghatak platoon and the 39 Rashtriya Rifles. During the search in the Salani neighborhood, security forces unearthed a significant cache of weaponry and explosive materials concealed in an old black bag. The recovery included:
-
One large IED weighing approximately 4.5 kg.
-
One smaller IED.
-
Two Chinese grenades.
-
A 9 mm pistol along with two rounds of ammunition.
-
22 rounds of 7.62 mm ammunition.
In accordance with standard operating procedures, the bomb disposal squad destroyed the recovered IEDs and grenades on-site through controlled explosions. Officials confirmed that there were no casualties or damage to surrounding property during the disposal process. This timely recovery is seen as a significant success in thwarting planned anti-national activities in the border region.
