Srinagar, April 8 – An improvised explosive device (IED) planted by terrorists in the Shopian district of J&K on Wednesday was detected and safely defused by security forces, officials said.
The IED was discovered along the Zainpora-Chitargam road in Shopian early in the morning during a routine security check of the area, and it was intended to target vehicles belonging to security forces using this road.
The Bomb Disposal Squad safely defused the IED after traffic was temporarily halted on the Zainpora-Chitargam road.
IEDs, typically made from conventional military components, chemical substances, or discarded explosives, are used by insurgents or terrorists to destroy property and injure or kill people.
They are primarily used by guerrilla or terrorist organizations as part of asymmetric warfare, urban warfare, or in terrorist operations.
IEDs are commonly used in unconventional warfare, often disguised as roadside bombs or in vehicles. They can range from small pipe bombs to large vehicle-borne IEDs (VBIEDs) capable of immense destruction. They typically contain a switch, an initiator (detonator), a charge (explosive), and a container.
IEDs are a significant threat to security forces and civilians alike, contributing significantly to casualties in conflicts worldwide.
Security forces often use Bomb Disposal Squads (BDS) to neutralize these threats.
Road opening parties (ROPs) of the army and other security forces are deployed immediately after dawn to search for IEDs planted by terrorists on roads and highways in J&K. This exercise is called "sanitization" as it ensures the safety of security forces vehicles, VIP convoys, and civilians using these roads and highways.