Forest Department Employee Arrested In J&K For Allegedly Sheltering Terrorists

Jammu and Kashmir Police have arrested two persons, including a Forest Department employee, for allegedly providing logistical support and safe hideouts to terrorists operating in Kishtwar district. The arrests are being viewed as a significant breakthrough in the ongoing efforts to dismantle the terror support network functioning in the remote and mountainous Dachhan region.

The accused have been identified as Tariq Ahmed Ginoo, who is currently posted in the Forest Department, and Mohammad Iqbal. Both are residents of the Tander area in Dachhan, a densely forested belt known for its difficult terrain that has historically been exploited by terrorist groups for movement and shelter. Police said preliminary investigations point to their active role in assisting local terror operatives.

According to investigators, the duo allegedly facilitated the movement of terrorists by arranging clandestine hideouts and extending material support to operatives travelling through the upper reaches of Dachhan. A senior security official said such logistical assistance enables terrorists to survive and operate in remote and inhospitable areas, making the crackdown on support networks a key priority.

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The arrests were made during the investigation of a case registered at Kishtwar Police Station under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), and the Arms Act. This marks the second round of arrests in the case, with two other individuals from the Chatroo area of Kishtwar previously taken into custody for their alleged links to the same terror module.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Kishtwar Naresh Singh said the operation followed weeks of detailed groundwork and sustained technical surveillance. He stated that investigators had identified the suspects after a methodical probe and that police teams were continuing efforts to dismantle the broader ecosystem that aids and abets terrorism in the district.

Police officials emphasised that the investigation remains active and extensive, with efforts underway to identify and apprehend additional overground workers and facilitators connected to the module. Reiterating a zero-tolerance approach towards anti-national activities, the force said anyone found supporting terrorism, irrespective of position or influence, would face strict legal action while security operations continue across the forest belts of Dachhan and Marwah.

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