Srinagar, April 9 – The Indian Army's Chinar Corps, in a joint operation with the Jammu and Kashmir Police, averted a major terror incident by recovering and neutralizing 14.5 kg of Improvised Explosive Device (IED) near Chitragam in the Zainapora area of Shopian district, Jammu and Kashmir, officials said.
In a statement on its official X account on Wednesday, the Indian Army's Chinar Corps said: "OP CHITRAGAM, Shopian. #ChinarWarriors, in a joint operation with @JmuKmrPolice, averted a major terror incident by recovering and neutralizing an IED near Chitragam in the general area of Zainapora in Shopian. The 14.5 kg IED, packed with high explosives and fitted with a remote trigger, was carefully handled and destroyed in a controlled manner. #IndianArmy remains committed to keeping Kashmir free from terror."
Officials stated that the Indian Army remains committed to keeping Kashmir free from terror.
Officials added that the IED was found on the Zainpora-Chitargam road in Shopian early in the morning during a routine area sanitization, and was intended to target vehicles of security forces passing on this road.
The IED was safely defused by the Bomb Disposal Squad, which was called in after traffic was temporarily halted on the Zainapora-Chitargam road.
An IED (Improvised Explosive Device) is typically manufactured from conventional military components, chemical substances, or discarded explosives. They are predominantly utilized 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. Containing a switch, an initiator (detonator), a charge (explosive), and a container, they can range from small pipe bombs to large vehicle-borne IEDs (VBIEDs) capable of immense destruction.
Often found on roadsides, in culverts, or buried under surfaces, they are highly versatile. 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 moved out immediately after dawn to look for IEDs planted by the terrorists on roads and highways in J&K. This exercise is called ‘sanitization’ as this exercise ensures the safety of security forces vehicles, VIP cavalcades and civilians using these roads and highways.
