NEW DELHI: The Mehmoona Joya Facility, a strategic terror base of the Hizbul Mujahideen (HM), operates under the cover of Kotli Bhutta Government Hospital in the Head Marala area of Sialkot, Punjab.
This site plays a critical role in infiltrating trained HM terrorists into Jammu and Kashmir, especially the Jammu region, and represents a broader ISI-backed pattern of embedding terror infrastructure inside civilian government premises.
Location & Concealment Tactics
- Located adjacent to the Kotli Bhutta Government Hospital, the facility camouflages its operations under a single-story concrete building.
- It comprises three rooms, one kitchen, and one bathroom, while nearby hospital quarters are used to house HM cadres, enabling low-profile movement and planning.
- The facility can accommodate up to 50 terrorists, with 20–25 usually stationed for infiltration supervision, logistics, and terror plotting.
Terrorist Training & Infiltration Hub
- The Mehmoona Joya facility is actively used for:
- Training HM recruits in arms handling, tactical movement, and sabotage.
- Launching infiltration attempts into the Jammu sector of India.
- Transport and smuggling of weapons into the Kashmir Valley for use by terrorists.
Key Commanders Operating from the Facility
- Mohd. Irfan Khan @ Irfan Tanda
- Facility commander.
- Mastermind of the 26 January 1995 Jammu stadium blasts during Republic Day celebrations that killed 8 and injured 50; then-Governor K.V. Krishna Rao narrowly escaped.
- Leads infiltration missions and arms trafficking from this base.
- Atta Al Rehman Alfezey @ Abu Lala
- A top HM commander directing cross-border infiltration from Mehmoona Joya.
- Maaz Bhai
- Active in strategic planning and coordination for infiltration bids.
- Irfan Ghumman
- Known for executing Border Action Team (BAT) strikes on Indian positions in the Jammu-Samba sector.
Global Designation of Hizbul Mujahideen
- United States:
- Declared HM Chief Syed Salahuddin as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) in June 2017.
- Declared HM as a Foreign Terrorist Organization in August 2017.
- European Union: Proscribed HM in November 2005.
- India:
- Banned HM in 2002 under POTA (Prevention of Terrorism Act).
Ongoing Terror Operations Despite Global Sanctions
- Despite international bans, HM continues to run the Mehmoona facility with impunity, aided by the Pakistani Establishment and ISI.
- The facility collects and channels funds for terror activities and supports continuous infiltration operations into Indian territory.
- It represents a growing threat due to its strategic placement, hidden infrastructure, and ability to rotate and train dozens of terrorists under medical cover.
