4 newly-recruited militants arrested in J&K

Security forces have arrested four newly recruited militants along with arms and ammunition in Jammu and Kashmir's Kupwara district, officials said on Sunday.

According to the Defence Ministry, the four were intercepted in the upper reaches of the Kalaroos forests in Handwara while allegedly attempting to cross the Line of Control (LoC).

The operation was launched after security forces received information that the youths were being guided towards the LoC by three militants associated with the Al Badr group.

Based on the intelligence input, the Army and Jammu and Kashmir Police jointly laid an ambush in the area and managed to trap the four suspects. A brief exchange of fire followed, after which the four surrendered to the security forces.

Officials said the three other militants accompanying or guiding the group managed to escape during the operation. A search operation was subsequently launched in the forested area to locate them.

The four arrested youths, all residents of Kupwara district, were identified as newly recruited militants. Their arrest came less than 24 hours after photographs purportedly showing them carrying AK-series rifles had circulated widely on social media.

Security agencies are now questioning the arrested youths to establish how they were recruited, identify their alleged handlers and determine their intended route across the LoC. The operation also remains focused on tracking the three militants who escaped.