Srinagar: The terrorists and militants in Kashmir Valley had always found its way to establish a terrorist activity and then camouflage in high altitude areas or taking shelter in local homes. The terrorist have found a new way of hiding and that is the underground bunkers in dense gardens. ‘They built these bunkers to avoid military and security forces. This could be seen in recent attacks of Pulwama and Shopian as there are dense apple orchards and forests’, claimed Colonel AK Singh of the Army’s Anti-Terrorism Unit 44 Rashtriya Rifles.
Further he added, ‘these two districts are considered to be strongholds of terrorists. The situation was not easy for his team after finding underground bunkers as the terrorists could remain hidden for several days without the security forces coming here. The finding of a bunker in the midst of Rambi Ara, affected by water level fluctuations and sudden floods, was no surprise to the security forces’.
The terrorists had made iron bunkers in the middle of Rambi Ara to hide. The soldiers noticed a lid of an oil drum which led them to the opening of bunker which the terrorists used as a way to get into the bunker. There was a secret surveillance. Colonel said, ‘we were very surprised to see that terrorists are coming out from the middle of the river, which is usually filled with water only during the rainy season.
The five militants of banned militant groups Lashkar-e-Taiba and Hizbul Mujahideen were killed earlier this year. However, more than their deaths what affected army most was that the terrorists were able to build and live in underground bunkers.
Through the technical intelligence monitoring and human resources, the survey was ordered in the surrounding areas, especially Shopian. On basis of the survey information about cellars and underground bunkers, they began to found such bunkers inside traditional Kashmiri homes.
In June this year, security forces unearthed another underground bunker located in high altitude area covered with dense apple trees in Bandoh. The terrorists were living in 12 feet long and 10 feet wide underground bunkers here. The terrorists were living there comfortably while the army was searching for them in the villages. The army sensed the bunker when they witness that small patch of land is covered with plastic and the soil which was freshly carved. The most difficult time in the operation came when 50 women including a pregnant were present in the garden. Operation was carried out by removing them safely and five terrorists were killed around the underground bunker.
The pipe was placed in an iron box to breathe in the underground bunker
Told that the terrorists in Shopian had built underground bunkers on the banks of the river and put pipes in the iron box to breathe. There are many such bunkers, hopefully they will find more underground bunkers claimed colonel.
He said that artificial places have been made to hide in the houses. In many homes, the way to the underground bunker is from the basement of the houses. An underground room was discovered in Amarbug area of Shopian. Ten feet long, eight feet high and six feet deep, this room was built adjacent to the boundary wall of a house. They also had facility of charging the battery with the help of inverter.
Since taking command of the 44 Rashtriya Rifles, Colonel Singh went to the homes of many citizens whose relatives had gone on the path of terrorism. The officer advised them to ensure that these youths return and also assured them of all possible help. He told that his team is engaged in solving the problems of the youth. Along with career counseling, they are given guidance for education, but when it comes to take the front from the terrorists, they do not back down. So far 47 terrorists have been killed. Seven have been surrendered.