Authorities said that they have started a major crackdown in Kashmir on militants and their supporters after the deadly Pahalgam attack earlier this week. Officials said on Saturday that “houses of terrorists were demolished, their hideouts were raided, and hundreds of people were detained for questioning.”
Forces said that they are “targeting known terrorist associates and sympathisers across Kashmir to prevent more attacks like the one in Pahalgam.”
On Tuesday, gunmnen opened fire in Baisaran, a tourist spot in Pahalgam, Anantnag district, killing 26 people, most of them visitors from other states.
In the last 48 hours, “the houses of five terrorists or their associates have been demolished,” officials said. They warned that more such actions would follow.
Aadil Thoker and Asif Sheikh, had their houses blown up after raids by forces. According to them, Aadil Thoker has been identified as one of the attackers in the Pahalgam incident, and Asif Sheikh’s role is also being investigated.
Officials said mysterious blasts destroyed their houses after Thursday night’s raids.
Meanwhile, forces have detained hundreds of overground workers (OGWs) and supporters, mostly in the four southern districts of Kashmir, to “trace the terrorists responsible for Tuesday’s attack.”
Accoding to the officials, during one operation in Bandipora district, a suspected OGW, Altaf Lalli, was killed when terrorists opened fire while he was helping security forces locate a hideout. Two policemen were also injured during the attack, and the terrorists escaped, they said.
On Saturday, the focus shifted to Srinagar, where raids were carried out in more than a dozen areas, including Safakadal, Soura, Bemina, Shalteng, Lal Bazar, and Zadibal.
In Anantnag, search operations are happening around the clock, and mobile checkpoints have been set up across the district to monitor suspicious movements, officials said.
