Baramulla (Jammu and Kashmir), May 12: In the aftermath of Operation Sindoor, which saw India target major terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), Baramulla Police reported the discovery of 20 unexploded ordnances (UXOs) across 17 villages in the district.
According to an official statement, safe disposal operations have been carried out, and the district administration has allowed evacuees from six of these villages to return home.
“Baramulla Police has been intimated about the presence of 20 unexploded ordnances (UXOs) in 17 villages across the district. Consequent to their safe disposal, District administration has permitted evacuees from these 6 villages to return,” the police stated.
The presence of UXOs stems from the high-intensity precision strikes launched during Operation Sindoor—a multi-branch military operation initiated by India in the early hours of May 7 in response to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, which killed 26 people.
Key highlights from the operation:
- Strikes targeted nine major terror camps, with five located in PoK and four in Pakistan, including camps in Muridke and Bahawalpur, which were hubs for Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) training and radicalisation.
- The operation led to the elimination of over 100 terrorists, including Rauf Azhar, brother-in-law of JeM chief Maulana Masood Azhar and a key conspirator in the IC-814 hijacking.
- In a joint press briefing, Indian military officials confirmed strikes on 11 Pakistani airbases, significantly degrading Pakistan’s offensive military capabilities.
- The operation, while forceful, was conducted with “calibrated restraint” to minimise civilian casualties.
Security remains tight in the border districts, and authorities continue to assess villages for any residual risks before allowing the full return of residents. UXO disposal teams are working in coordination with the military and local administration to clear all affected areas.