New Delhi: In a series of coordinated operations across Jammu and Kashmir, security forces demolished the homes of five identified terrorists on Friday night, as part of a broader crackdown in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack that left 26 people dead earlier this week.
The targeted demolitions were carried out in the Shopian, Kulgam, and Pulwama districts, and included properties belonging to Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) operatives and other suspected militants linked to the assault in Baisaran Valley, also known as “Mini Switzerland”.
LeT Commander’s House Among Targets
In Chotipora village, Shopian, the house of LeT commander Shahid Ahmed Kutte was razed to the ground. Kutte, according to officials, has been involved in terror-related activities for over three years and is believed to have played a key role in coordinating cross-border operations.
In Kulgam’s Matalam area, security forces demolished the residence of Zahid Ahmed, another active terrorist under surveillance.
Meanwhile, in Pulwama district, the crackdown intensified further:
• In Murran, the house of Ahsan Ul Haq, who reportedly underwent terror training in Pakistan in 2018, was destroyed in a controlled explosion.
• A double-storey home belonging to Ehsan Ahmad Sheikh, an LeT terrorist active since mid-2023, was torn down.
• The fifth demolition occurred in Kachipora, Pulwama, where the house of Haris Ahmad, also believed to be active since 2023, was razed using explosives.
Linked to Pahalgam Attack
The latest demolitions follow similar actions taken on Thursday night, when security forces blew up the houses of Adil Hussain Thoker and Asif Sheikh, two key suspects behind the Pahalgam massacre. Officials revealed that explosives were stored inside both houses, potentially for future attacks or as defensive stockpiles.
Police have registered cases against all individuals, and efforts to track down those still at large are ongoing. The Anantnag Police have also released sketches of Thoker and two Pakistani nationals – Hashim Musa alias Suleman and Ali Bhai alias Talha Bhai – with a ₹20 lakh reward announced for credible information leading to their capture.
The Attack and Aftermath
The April 22 attack saw multiple armed terrorists storm the tourist-filled Baisaran Valley, opening indiscriminate fire and killing 26 people, including one Nepali national. Witnesses described scenes of panic as visitors ran for cover in the open meadows with little shelter available.
In response, the Army, CRPF, and Jammu and Kashmir Police have launched a massive manhunt, cordoning off forested areas and using surveillance drones and tracking units.
Diplomatic Fallout and Government Response
India has taken strong diplomatic and strategic actions since the attack, including:
• Suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan, citing persistent cross-border terrorism.
• Closure of the Attari land border crossing and expulsion of Pakistani military attachés.
• A national security directive ordering Pakistani nationals to leave Indian territory by May 1.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemned the attack as “barbaric” and pledged that every individual involved, along with their supporters, would be identified and punished.
“We will identify, track, and punish every terrorist and their backers behind this heinous act,” the Prime Minister stated.
