Post-Anantnag attack crackdown: Houses of two terrorists demolished; several detained

Security forces intensified their anti-terror offensive across Kashmir on Thursday by demolishing the homes of two active terrorists and detaining about 2500 suspected overground workers after a policeman was killed in a close-range terrorist attack in Anantnag, drawing criticism from Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti.

Officials said the action targeted Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists Adil Ahmad Thokar and Haroon Rashid, both active since 2018, and formed part of a wider intelligence-led crackdown launched after Wednesday’s attack on Head Constable Ashiq Hussain Qureshi.

Reports said that explosives were used to demolish these houses in Hasanpora and Bijbehara. This is the second time the Thokar family’s house has been demolished, the first time after the Pahalgam terror attack in April last year. The family had constructed a new house and shifted there only a few months ago.

In a separate operation, the house of another LeT terrorist, Haroon Rashid, was also demolished. Both Adil and Haroon have been active terrorists since 2018.

Security agencies also launched widespread raids and detained nearly 2500 suspected Over Ground Workers (OGWs) for questioning. Srinagar district alone saw around 700 detentions, while other districts like Baramulla, Budgam, Shopian and Ganderbal also reported significant numbers.

Reacting to the police action, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said terrorism cannot be ended through house demolitions or mass detentions alone, stressing that public support is essential to restore lasting peace in Jammu and Kashmir.

He cautioned: “I understand the anguish of the police, but the Supreme Court has issued an order stating that summary action of this kind should not be taken. We witnessed a similar situation after the Pahalgam attack and at that time, I had to speak to the Central government to stop this.”

He also spoke out against detention of hundreds of individuals in the Valley, stating that this “will not help improve the situation in J&K but in turn strain it further.”

“This cycle will not end without taking the people along. To some extent, we may reach that point by use of Police, Army and the CRPF but its true end will come when people rise against this violence, like after Pahalgam last year,” Omar said.

PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti also criticised the detentions, stating that while the killing of a police officer in the line of duty is “a heinous and condemnable act,” detaining over a thousand people and demolishing the homes of families of two alleged terrorists amounts to “collective punishment that has no place in a democracy.”

Asking authorities to relook, Peoples Conference chief Sajad Lone said “The actions of J&K Police after yesterday’s dastardly attack will do more harm”.