Terror outfits in Kashmir are shifting from safe houses to underground bunkers, creating new challenges for security forces. Officials said militants now build elaborate subterranean hideouts in thick forests and ridges instead of relying on shelters in local houses.
Last week, troops in Kulgam found a secret trench stocked with food, weapons, and ammunition after an encounter that killed two terrorists. Security officials warned that this trend is spreading in Kulgam, Shopian, and the Pir Panjal region, where dense forests provide natural cover.
Retired Lt Gen D.S. Hooda noted that these tactics resemble strategies from the 1990s and early 2000s. He explained that terrorists are exploiting the lack of human intelligence and using hidden bunkers to avoid detection by locals who may no longer support them.
To counter this shift, security agencies are preparing to use drones, ground-penetrating radars, and seismic sensors to locate underground structures. Recent examples show militants hiding in iron bunkers and man-made trenches in high-altitude areas.
Experts believe the move reflects the growing difficulty for militants to rely on village shelters, forcing them deeper into forests and mountains.
