SHOPIAN, Sept. 20 -- Hideouts in higher reaches and seeking refuge in local houses are a thing of the past as terrorists in Kashmir valley now dig underground bunkers in dense orchards and even in seasonal streams to escape the dragnet of army and security forces.

"This trend has been witnessed off late in twin districts of Pulwama and Shopian with the latter having a majority of them in view of dense apple orchards and jungles," says Colonel A K Singh, heading the 44 Rashtriya Rifles, the army's counter-insurgent unit which earned a distinction of having maximum kills of terrorists as well as surrenders or apprehensions.

Talking to agencies from the well-fortified 44-RR headquarters, Col Singh and his team is always seen engaging with ...